Effect of sodium selenite on morphine-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

The effects of selenite on morphine hepatotoxicity and metabolism were examined. Pretreatment of male mice with sodium selenite (2 mg/kg, ip) 24 hr before morphine administration significantly protected them against the hepatotoxic effects of morphine as evidenced by decreased plasma alanine and aspartate transaminase values. This treatment inhibited the decrease in hepatic glutathione content that occurs in animals receiving hepatotoxic doses of morphine. Selenium pretreatment decreased the in vivo covalent bonding of morphine to hepatic proteins. Selenium also lowered the in vitro covalent bonding of morphine to hepatic microsomal proteins.