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Trace Elements Status in Selenium-Deficient Rats—Interaction with Cadmium

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Abstract

Although the metabolic and toxicological interactions between essential element selenium (Se) and toxic element cadmium (Cd) have been reported for a long time, the experimental studies explored mostly acute, high-dose interactions. Limited data are available regarding the effects of Se-deficiency on toxicokinetics of cadmium, as well as on the levels of key trace elements—copper, zinc, and iron. In the present study, male and female Wistar weanling rats (n = 40/41) were fed either Se-deficient or Se-adequate diet (<0.06 or 0.14 mg Se per kilogram diet, respectively) for 12 weeks, and from week 9 were drinking water containing 0 or 50 mg Cd/l as cadmium chloride. At the end of the 12-week period, trace element concentrations were estimated by AAS. Selenium-deficient rats of both genders showed significantly lower accumulation of cadmium in the liver, compared to Se-adequate rats. Zinc and iron hepatic levels were not affected by Se-deficiency. However, a significant elevation of copper was found in the liver of Se-deficient rats of both genders. Cadmium supplementation increased zinc and decreased iron hepatic level, regardless of Se status and decreased copper concentration in Se-adequate rats. Se-deficiency was also found to influence the effectiveness of cadmium mobilization in male rats.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the research grant MSM 0021620819 of the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czech Republic

    Dana Kotyzová, Pavla Černá & Vladislav Eybl

  2. Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

    Ladislav Lešetický

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  1. Dana Kotyzová
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  2. Pavla Černá
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  3. Ladislav Lešetický
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  4. Vladislav Eybl
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Correspondence to Vladislav Eybl.

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Kotyzová, D., Černá, P., Lešetický, L. et al. Trace Elements Status in Selenium-Deficient Rats—Interaction with Cadmium. Biol Trace Elem Res 136, 287–293 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8541-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8541-4

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