title: The effects of selenium on the antioxidant defense system in the liver of rats exposed to cadmium.
abstract: Total superoxide dismutase (total SOD), copper zinc containing superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD), and manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities as well as ascorbic acid (AsA), and vitamin E (vit E) concentrations were analysed in the liver of rats exposed to cadmium (15 mg Cd/day/kg), selenium (7 micrograms Se/day/kg), and to cadmium+selenium (15 mg Cd + 7 micrograms Se/day/kg), and in control animals. Cadmium caused a decrease of total SOD, Mn SOD, CAT and GSH-Px but an increase of GST activity in the liver of rats. Contrary to cadmium, selenium caused a significant increase of the activity of these enzymes except for GSH-Px. By concomitant exposure to both cadmium and selenium, the toxic effects of cadmium on the activity of mentioned enzymes we abolished. In all exposed groups, the activity of enzyme glutathione-S-transferase was enhanced, indicating its increased role in prevention of lipid peroxidation. Cadmium decreased the concentration of AsA and increased the concentration of vitamin E in the liver, while selenium increased the concentration of both vitamins. However, by concomitant administration of cadmium and selenium, these changes were diminished and tended to reach control values.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Serbia, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ognjanović
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Zikić
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stajn
authors.forename: Z S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Saicić
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kostić
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Petrović
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D014810:Vitamin E; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D012643:Selenium; D001205:Ascorbic Acid