Abstract
Mercuric chloride and sodium selenite were separately administered to male rats in the drinking water or in a combination (2.5 mmol Hg/L and 0.1 mmol Se/L). The mercuric chloride group showed histopathological lesions, as evidenced by cell necrosis in the liver and tubular necrosis in the kidney. The sodium selenite group showed some depression in growth, but pathological changes were found neither in the liver nor in the kidney. Simultaneous administration of both compounds produced a protective effect on weight loss and histopathology. These effects were associated with some small structures in the kidney proximal tubules and to some structure in the extracellular space in the liver. Thin, unstained cryosections were freeze-dried and examined in the Studsvik Nuclear Microprobe. The structures observed in the liver and the kidney were shown to contain both selenium and mercury.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
J. H. Koeman, W. H. M. Peeters, C. H. M. Kousdstaal-Hol, P. S. Tjioe, and J. J. M. Goeji,Nature 245, 385 (1973).
T. Kari and P. Kauranen,Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 19, 273 (1978).
R. Martoja and D. Viale,C. R. Acad. Sci. D (Paris)285, 109 (1977).
L. Gerhardsson, D. Brune, I. G. F. Nordberg, and P. O. Wester,Br. J. Ind. Med.,42, 617 (1985).
R. F. Burk, H. E. Jr. Jordan, and K. W. Kiker,Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 40, 71 (1977).
J. Parizek and I. Ostadalova,Experientia 23, 142 (1967).
H. E. Ganther, C. Goudie, M. L. Sunde, M. J. Kopecky, P. Wagner, OH. Sang-Hwan, and W. G. Hoekstra,Science 175, 1122 (1975).
S. Potter and G. Matrone,J. Nutr. 104, 638 (1974).
D. H. Groth, L. Stettler, and G. Nackay, inEffects and Dose-Response Relationships of Toxic Metals, G. F. Nordberg, ed., Elsivier Scientific c Publishing, Amsterdam, 1976, pp. 527–543.
N. G. Carmichael and B. A. Fowler,J. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol. 3, 399 (1980).
G. W. Grime, F. Watt, S. Mann, C. C. Perry, J. Webb, and R. J. P. WilliamsTrends in Biochem. Sci. 10, 6 (1985).
U. Lindh,Nucl. Instr. and Meth. 187, 185 (1982).
G. J. F. Legge,Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B3, 561 (1984).
F. Watt, G. W. Grime, J. Takacs, and D. J. T. Vaux,Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B3, 599 (1984).
E. B. Ilgren, D. J. T. Vaux, F. Watt, G. W. Grime, and J. Takacs,J. Neurosci. Methods 12, 25 (1984).
A. P. Mazzolini, G. J. F. Legge, and C. K. Pallaghy,Nucl. Instr. and Meth. 191, 583 (1981).
U. Lindh,Anal. Chim. Acta 150, 233 (1983).
U. Lindh and T. Sunde,Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B10/11, 703 1985.
T. L. Gritzka and B. F. Trump,Am. J. Pathol. 52, 1225 (1968).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lindh, U., Johansson, E. Protective effects of selenium against mercury toxicity as studied in the rat liver and kidney by nuclear analytical techniques. Biol Trace Elem Res 12, 109–120 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02796669
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02796669