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Low levels of methylmercury induce DNA damage in rats: protective effects of selenium

  • Inorganic Compounds
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An Erratum to this article was published on 26 November 2008

Abstract

In this study we examined the possible antigenotoxic effect of selenium (Se) in rats chronically exposed to low levels of methylmercury (MeHg) and the association between glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and DNA lesions (via comet assay) in the same exposed animals. Rats were divided into six groups as follows: (Group I) received water; (Group II) received MeHg (100 μg/day); (Group III) received Se (2 mg/L drinking water); (Group IV) received Se (6 mg/L drinking water); (Group V) received MeHg (100 μg/day) and Se (2 mg/L drinking water); (Group VI) received MeHg (100 μg/day) and Se (6 mg/L drinking water). Total treatment time was 100 days. GSH-Px activity was determined spectrophotometrically and DNA damage was determined by comet assay. Mean GSH-Px activity in groups I, II, III, IV, V and VI were, respectively: 40.19 ± 17.21; 23.63 ± 6.04; 42.64 ± 5.70; 38.50 ± 7.15; 34.54 ± 6.18 and 41.39 ± 11.67 nmolNADPH/min/gHb. DNA damage was represented by a mean score from 0 to 300; the results for groups I, II, III, IV, V and VI were, respectively: 6.87 ± 3.27; 124.12 ± 13.74; 10.62 ± 3.81; 13.25 ± 1.76; 86.87 ± 11.95 and 76.25 ± 7.48. There was a significant inhibition of GSH-Px activity in group II compared with group I (P < 0.05). Groups V and VI did not show a difference in enzyme activity compared with groups III and IV, showing the possible protective action of Se. Comet assay presented a significant difference in DNA migration between group II and group I (P < 0.0001). Groups V and VI showed a significant reduction in MeHg-induced genotoxicity (P < 0.001) when compared with group II. A negative correlation (r = −0.559, P < 0.05) was found between GSH-Px activity and DNA lesion, showing that the greater the DNA damage, the lower the GSH-Px activity. Our findings demonstrated the oxidative and genotoxic properties of MeHg, even at low doses. Moreover, Se co-administration reestablished GSH-Px activity and reduced DNA damage.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the São Paulo State Foundation for Scientific Research (FAPESP, Brazil) and the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technologic Development (CNPq) in the form of doctoral fellowships. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n, Campus Universitário da USP, 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Denise Grotto, Gustavo R. M. Barcelos, Juliana Valentini, Lusânia M. G. Antunes & Fernando Barbosa Jr

  2. Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima 1000, Cidade Universitária, CEP 97105-900, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Juliana Valentini & Solange C. Garcia

  3. Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes 748, CEP 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil

    José Pedro F. Angeli

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  1. Denise Grotto
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  2. Gustavo R. M. Barcelos
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  3. Juliana Valentini
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  4. Lusânia M. G. Antunes
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Correspondence to Fernando Barbosa Jr.

Additional information

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00204-008-0387-6.

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Grotto, D., Barcelos, G.R.M., Valentini, J. et al. Low levels of methylmercury induce DNA damage in rats: protective effects of selenium. Arch Toxicol 83, 249–254 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-008-0353-3

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