Selenium inhibits UV-light-induced skin carcinogenesis in hairless mice.
Female hairless inbred hr/hr mice were exposed to UV-B irradiation from Philips TL 40W/12 fluorescent tubes. Fractionated irradiation, given as single daily doses 5 days a week, was gradually increased from 0.04 to 0.4 J/cm2 over 2 weeks. Irradiation at 0.4 J/cm2 was continued for 20 weeks. Selenium supplementation given as sodium selenite in the drinking water at 2, 4 and 8 mg/l began 3 weeks before UV-irradiation and continued thereafter. Development of skin tumors was followed by weekly examinations. Statistical analyses revealed significant dose-dependent selenium-mediated protection against UV-light-induced skin cancer. Leukemia developed in 5 of 150 UV-irradiated mice as opposed to none in a group of 60 unirradiated mice.
D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
D012643:Selenium