Selenium effect on the growth of carcinogenic fungi and cytotoxic action of aflatoxin B1 on lymphocyte culture and on embryonal development of Xenopus laevis.

The authors report the results of investigations on the protective effect of selenium against teratogenic and cytotoxic action of aflatoxin B1 and the inhibitory action of this element on the growth of fungi producing carcinogenic aflatoxins. Sodium selenate inhibited the growth of cultures of such fungi belonging to the class Fungi imperfecti as Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium meleagrinum and Penicillium rougolosum. Added to cell cultures of lymphocytes sodium selenate inhibited the cytotoxic action of aflatoxin B1 evidenced by inhibition of PHA-stimulated blastic transformation of these cells and reduction in the number of mitoses. Sodium selenate added to the medium in the culture of Xenopus laevis larvae poisoned with aflatoxin B1 reduced significantly the early mortality of embryos and counteracted the teratogenic action of aflatoxin B1. This action was observed, however, only in early phase of morulation. The authors discuss the importance of their observations for the studies on the role of bioelements deficiency in the environment for induction of malignant transformation.