Pathogenesis of sodium selenite and dimethylselenide acute toxicosis in swine: tissue and blood biochemical changes
Nebbia, C.; Gremmels, J.F.; Soffietti, M.G.
Research Communications in Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology 67(1): 117-130
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-5164 PMID: 2158134 Document Number: 358307
The present investigation was undertaken to examined the biochemical changes occurring in blood and tissues of Landrace pigs given intravenously 2 mg selenium/kg b.w. as either sodium selenite or dimethylselenide. NADP-isocitric dehydrogenase, lactic dehydrogenase and succinic dehydrogenase activities were evaluated in subcellular fractions from liver, heart (right and left ventricule) kidney and longissimus dorsi. Other tested parameters included plasma cations and proteins, blood urea nitrogen, hematocrit as well as selected serum enzymes. The marked inhibition of succinic dehydrogenase along with the rise of the two other dehydrogenases and the modification of the plasma cation profile suggest that in swine sodium selenite may act by determining a shift toward anaerobiosis accompanied by alterations in cell membrane permeability. Comparatively, dimethylselenide was found to affect the tissue enzymes to a similar but less severe extent and appeared devoid of significant effects on the remaining parameters. The possible relationships between the cardiovascular alterations brought about by sodium selenite (described elsewhere) and the observed biochemical changes in the present study are finally discussed.