Selenium content of rat hair, nails, and other tissues as affected by concurrent exposure to toxic elements
1993
Salbe, A.D. | Morris, V.C. | Levander, O.A.
Because selenium (Se) compounds may have anticarcinogenic properties, noninvasive techniques to monitor Se status are needed. Hair and nails have been suggested, but earlier work by us showed that their Se content is a function of the amount ingested, chemical form, methionine intake, and growth rate. Here we report that the Se in hair and nails can also be influenced by the concurrent intake of certain toxic elements. Male weanling rats were fed diets containing 2.0 ppm Se as Na2SeO4 for 4 weeks. Elements were added to the water of 5 groups of rats as follows: none, 10 ppm As as sodium arsenite, 10 ppm Hg as mercuric chloride, 10 ppm Tl as thallium acetate, and 10 ppm Cd as cadmium chloride. Control rats received diets containing 0.1 ppm Se as Na2SeO4 and distilled water. Hair and nail Se levels were significantly decreased by administration of As, and As decreased red cell, plasma, and kidney Se contents as well. In contrast, Hg decreased hair and nail, but increased plasma, liver, muscle, bone, colon, and kidney Se contents. Tl decreased hair but increased liver and kidney Se content. Cd had no effect on hair or nail Se content but decreased red cell Se levels. Toxic elements have tissue-specific effects on body pools of Se that are not well-reflected in changes of hair and nail Se contents.
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