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Influence of selenium dose on mercury distribution and retention in suckling rats
Author(s) -
Orct Tatjana,
Lazarus Maja,
Jurasović Jasna,
Blanuša Maja,
Piasek Martina,
Kostial Krista
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of applied toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.784
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1099-1263
pISSN - 0260-437X
DOI - 10.1002/jat.1444
Subject(s) - selenium , mercury (programming language) , environmental chemistry , chemistry , toxicology , physiology , biology , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language
It is well known that metal–metal interactions in the body are age‐dependent. We studied the influence of increasing selenium (Se) doses on mercury (Hg) distribution and retention in the postnatal period in Hg‐exposed suckling rats. Seven‐day‐old Wistar pups were pretreated with three different oral doses of Se as sodium selenite (6.45, 12.9 and 19.4 µmol Se kg −1 b.w.) over 3 days. This was followed by simultaneous Se (as sodium selenite) and Hg (as mercury chloride) oral administration over 4 days. The molar ratio between Se and Hg given to pups was 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1, respectively. Mercury and Se were measured in brain, kidneys, liver, plasma, erythrocytes and urine of pups on the day after the last administration by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results showed that in all samples Se concentrations rose almost proportionally to the dose of Se given to pups. Mercury concentration in organs, plasma and urine decreased with higher oral doses of Se. However, Hg concentration in erythrocytes increased with increasing Se dose. There was evidently a redistribution of Hg from plasma to erythrocytes at higher ratio of Se:Hg. Approximately equimolar doses of Se and Hg are necessary to produce maximum uptake of Hg by plasma and liver and minimum retention of Hg in the kidney and erythrocytes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.