Selenium protection against the acute cadmium toxicity in testis
Ohta, H.; Imamiya, S.
Kitasato Archives of Experimental Medicine 59(1-2): 27-35
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-1924 PMID: 3784308 Document Number: 285128
The testicular damage induced by Cadmium (Cd: 2.0 mg Cd/kg, ip) was protected remarkably by simultaneous Selenium (Se: 0.6 mg Se/kg, ip) injection in the animals and the high molecular weight Se-Cd complex was found in plasma and testis. But the Se-Cd complex was unstable and decreased rapidly with time from the 2nd day after the Cd injection. In contrast with the Cd decrease in the fraction of high molecular weight Se-Cd complex in blood (plasma) and testis, the Cd concentration in metallothionein fraction of testis was increasing with time. On the other hand, glutathione S-transferase activity inhibited by Cd was maintained at the level of control group (saline injection) by Se treatment, especially by simultaneous Se injection. It was suggested from our experiments that the formation of high molecular weight Se-Cd complex at the beginning and the secondary induction of metallothionein resulted in protection of enzyme inhibition by Cd in testis and this is the main protection mechanism by the Se treatment against the acute Cd toxicity.