title: Protective effects of selenium on methimazole-induced anemia and oxidative stress in adult rats and their offspring.
abstract: The present study investigates the potential ability of selenium, considered as an antioxidant with pharmacological property to alleviate oxidative stress and hematological parameter disorders induced by methimazole, an antithyroid drug. Pregnant Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of six each: group I served as negative control and received a standard diet; group II received 250 mg/L of methimazole in drinking water and a standard diet; group III received both methimazole (250 mg/L, orally) and selenium (0.5 mg/kg of diet) supplemented to the standard diet; group IV served as positive control and received a supplement of selenium in the diet (0.5 mg/kg of diet) as sodium selenite (Na(2)SeO(3)). Treatment was started from the 14th day of pregnancy until day 14 after delivery. Methimazole reduced the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit in mothers and their pups. Besides, plasma iron, vitamins B(9), B(12), C and E levels were reduced. Lipid peroxidation increased, objectified by high malondialdehyde levels and lactate dehydrogenase activity in plasma, while glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities showed a significant decline. Co-administration of selenium through diet improved all the parameters cited above. It can be concluded that the administration of selenium alleviates methimazole-induced toxicity, thus demonstrating its antioxidant efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Animal Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, BP1171, 3000 Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ibtissem Ben
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Amara
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.forename: Afef
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troudi
authors.forename: Nejla
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Soudani
authors.forename: Fatma Ayadi
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Makni
authors.forename: Khaled Mounir
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Zeghal
authors.forename: Najiba
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zeghal
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008713:Methimazole / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D020011:Protective Agents; D014810:Vitamin E; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D008713:Methimazole; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D005978:Glutathione; D012643:Selenium; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D001205:Ascorbic Acid