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Metallothionein, essential elements and lipid peroxidation in mercury-exposed suckling rats pretreated with selenium

BioMetals volume 28, pages 701–712 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Detoxification of mercury (Hg) with selenium (Se) in the early postnatal period with regard to the expression of metallothionein protein (MT), essential element status, and lipid peroxidation level in tissues has not been studied. Seven-day-old Wistar pups were orally pretreated with Se [6 μmol Na2SeO3/kg body weight (b.w.)] for 3 days and then cotreated with Hg (6 μmol HgCl2/kg b.w.) for the following 4 days. This group (Se + Hg) was compared to the groups treated with Hg, Se, or vehicle (control). Compared to the Hg-group, Se + Hg-group exhibited lower renal MT expression, reduced accumulation of Hg, Cu and Zn, and reduced excretion of Se, Hg and Zn in urine. In the liver, MT was stimulated by Se treatment in both, Se and Se + Hg-group. Hepatic and brain levels of the endogenous essential elements Cu, Fe, Mg, and Zn remained unchanged in all of the studied groups. Brain Hg levels and oxidation of lipids measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were diminished in Se + Hg-group of pups compared to the Hg-group. This study suggests that Se pretreatment can help reduce Hg in the tissues of suckling rats, simultaneously preventing impairment of essential element levels in the kidneys and their excessive excretion via urine. Also, Se was shown to prevent oxidative damage of lipids in the brain, which is particularly susceptible to Hg during the early postnatal period.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia (Project Grants No. 022-0222148-2135 and 022-0222148-2146). The technical assistance of Mrs. Đurđa Breški, Marija Ciganović and Snježana Mataušić is gratefully acknowledged. The authors thank Mr. Makso Herman for language advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Analytical Toxicology and Mineral Metabolism Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Tatjana Orct, Maja Lazarus, Ankica Sekovanić & Maja Blanuša

  2. Molecular Toxicology Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Marija Ljubojević & Ivan Sabolić

Authors
  1. Tatjana Orct
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  2. Maja Lazarus
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  3. Marija Ljubojević
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  4. Ankica Sekovanić
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  5. Ivan Sabolić
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  6. Maja Blanuša
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Correspondence to Maja Lazarus.

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Orct, T., Lazarus, M., Ljubojević, M. et al. Metallothionein, essential elements and lipid peroxidation in mercury-exposed suckling rats pretreated with selenium. Biometals 28, 701–712 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-015-9859-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-015-9859-3

Keywords

  • Selenium supplementation
  • Mercury exposure
  • Suckling rat
  • Metallothionein
  • Essential element
  • Lipid peroxidation