title: Effects of selenium intervention on chronic fluorosis-induced renal cell apoptosis in rats.
abstract: This study aims to explore the effect of selenium in fluoride-induced renal cell apoptosis in rats and determine the optimal level of selenium in drinking water to prevent fluorosis. Experimental animals were divided into a control group, a sodium fluoride-treated group (NaF, 50 mg/L), three sodium selenite-treated groups (Na2SeO3, 0.375, 0.75, and 1.5 mg/L), and three selenium + NaF-treated groups (Na2SeO3, 0.375, 0.75, and 1.5 mg/L; NaF, 50 mg/L). Ultrastructural changes in the kidney tissues of each group were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay and the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were detected by immunohistochemical methods. The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that Bcl-2, Bax, and Bax/Bcl-2 protein expressions in the fluoride and high selenium groups were highly elevated compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Bax expression in the low selenium group and Bcl-2, Bax, and Bax/Bcl-2 protein expressions in the moderate selenium groups were observably elevated (P < 0.05). Bax and Bax/Bcl-2 expressions in the fluoride group and Bax mRNA expression in the high selenium group were highly elevated (P < 0.01). Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA expression in the high selenium group was also highly elevated (P < 0.05). Compared with the fluoride group, the group treated with low selenium has Bax protein expression that was observably reduced (P < 0.05); the group treated with moderate selenium has Bcl-2 protein expression that was observably elevated (P < 0.05), Bax protein expression that was highly reduced (P < 0.01), and Bax/Bcl-2 protein expression that was observably reduced (P < 0.05); the group treated with high selenium has Bcl-2 protein expression that was highly elevated (P < 0.01), Bax protein expression that was highly elevated (P < 0.01), and Bax/Bcl-2 protein expression that was highly reduced (P < 0.01); the groups treated with moderate selenium and high selenium have Bax mRNA expression that was highly reduced (P < 0.01), and the groups treated with high selenium have Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA expression that was observably reduced (P < 0.05). Selenium may inhibit the apoptosis of renal cells in fluorosis rats by regulating the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax. The optimal dose of Na2SeO3 to protect against fluoride-induced renal cell apoptosis was determined to be 1.5 mg/L.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Life Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shu-ying
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ke-ke
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Zi-gui
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000473:pathology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D012643:Selenium