title: Selenium-mercury interaction during intestinal absorption of 75Se compounds in chicks.
abstract: The effects of inorganic (HgCl2) and organic (CH3HgCl) mercury on the intestinal absorption of Se compounds [Na2(75)SeO3, Na2(75)SeO4, L-[75Se]methionine ([75Se]Met)] were determined in 3-wk-old White Leghorn cockerels by the in vivo ligated duodenal loop procedure. The intraduodenal dose contained 0.05 microCi 75Se, 0.01 mM Se, 150 mM NaCl and 0-1.0 mM Hg. In the presence of 1 mM inorganic Hg in the intraduodenal dose, the absorption of the inorganic 75Se compounds was only about 65% of that in the control group, whereas only a slight inhibitory effect on [75Se]Met absorption was observed. Methylmercury had no effect on [75Se]selenite absorption. Precipitation of the 75Se-selenite in the intestinal lumen partly explained the direct interaction between inorganic Hg and Se compounds. Absorption of [75Se]Met and [75Se]selenite was also determined in chicks fed after hatching a purified diet supplemented with varying amounts of Hg (0-500 mg/kg) and Se (0-4 mg/kg). Dietary Hg significantly reduced the transfer of [75Se]selenite to body by enhancing the accumulation of the isotope in the intestinal tissue. Dietary Hg did not affect the absorption of [75Se]Met, but altered the whole-body distribution of this Se compound. Because interaction between Se and Hg was observed mainly between the inorganic compounds and with use of a manyfold excess of Hg over Se, the data suggest that intestinal interaction between these metals is not of great nutritional importance.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D008628:Mercury / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D011868:Radioisotopes; D064586:Selenic Acid; D020887:Selenious Acid; D012643:Selenium / Q000378:metabolism*; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D012645:Selenomethionine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D011868:Radioisotopes; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D012645:Selenomethionine; D020887:Selenious Acid; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium; D064586:Selenic Acid; C004925:methylmercuric chloride