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Mercury-binding capacity of organic and inorganic selenium in rat blood and liver

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Abstract

The mercury-binding capacity of seleno-DL-methionine and selenium dioxide was assessed in male Wistar rats. Mercury was supplied as fish loaves made of northern pike or rainbow trout. We used a selenium concentration of 3.4 mg/kg fish, about sixfold compared to the equivalent quantity of mercury. Seleno-DL-methionine had a tendency to increase both methyl mercury and total mercury in blood, although it also seemed to reduce the proportion of methyl mercury of total mercury. Selenium dioxide lowered mercury levels by 24–29% both in the blood and in the liver of rats that were fed with northern pike.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Kari Seppänen, Reino Laatikainen, Marjatta Kantola & Simo Lötjönen

  2. Research Institute of Public Health, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Jukka T. Salonem, Jari Kaikkomem & Kristiima Nyyssönen

  3. Department of Applied Zoology and Veterinary Medicine, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Mikko Harri & Llisa Nüurminen

Authors
  1. Kari Seppänen
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  2. Reino Laatikainen
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  4. Marjatta Kantola
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Seppänen, K., Laatikainen, R., Salonem, J.T. et al. Mercury-binding capacity of organic and inorganic selenium in rat blood and liver. Biol Trace Elem Res 65, 197–210 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02789096

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02789096

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