Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, 1501 Mercer University Dr, Macon, GA, 31207, USA.
Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA, USA.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2020 May;195(1):187-195. doi: 10.1007/s12011-019-01835-y. Epub 2019 Jul 22.
Mercury (Hg) is a common environmental toxicant to which humans are exposed regularly through occupational and dietary means. Although selenium supplementation has been reported to prevent the toxic effects of Hg in animals, the mechanisms for this prevention are not well understood. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of selenium on the disposition and toxicity of Hg. Wistar rats were injected intravenously with a non-nephrotoxic dose (0.5 μmol kg) or a nephrotoxic dose (2.5 μmol kg) of HgCl (containing radioactive Hg) with or without co-administration of sodium selenite (NaSeO). Twenty-four hours after exposure, rats were euthanized, and organs were harvested. Co-administration of SeO with HgCl reduced the renal burden of Hg and the urinary excretion of Hg while increasing the amount of Hg in blood and spleen. We propose that Hg reacts with reduced selenite in the blood to form large Hg-Se complexes that are unable to be filtered at the glomerulus. Consequently, these complexes remain in the blood and are able to accumulate in blood-rich organs. These complexes, which may have fewer toxic effects than other species of Hg, may be eliminated slowly over the course of weeks to months.
汞 (Hg) 是一种常见的环境毒物，人类通过职业和饮食途径经常接触。虽然有报道称硒补充剂可以预防 Hg 对动物的毒性作用，但这种预防的机制尚不清楚。本研究的目的是确定硒对 Hg 的分布和毒性的影响。Wistar 大鼠静脉注射非肾毒性剂量（0.5 μmol/kg）或肾毒性剂量（2.5 μmol/kg）的 HgCl（含有放射性 Hg），同时给予亚硒酸钠（NaSeO）或不给予。暴露 24 小时后，处死大鼠并采集器官。HgCl 与 SeO 共同给药可减少 Hg 在肾脏中的负担和 Hg 的尿排泄，同时增加血液和脾脏中 Hg 的含量。我们提出 Hg 与血液中的还原亚硒酸盐反应形成不能在肾小球中过滤的大 Hg-Se 复合物。因此，这些复合物留在血液中并能够在富含血液的器官中积累。这些复合物可能比其他 Hg 物种的毒性小，可能会在数周到数月内缓慢消除。
