Inhibition by Selenium Compounds of Catecholamine Secretion Due to Inhibition of Ca2+ Influx in Cultured Bovine Adrenal Chromaffin Cells

Oxidant balance in brain of rats receiving different compounds of selenium

The influence of two organic selenocompounds and sodium selenite on oxidant processes in rat brain tissue was investigated. The study was performed on male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into four groups: I—control; II—administered with sodium selenite; III—provided with selenoorganic compound A of chain structure 4-(o-tolyl-)-selenosemicarbazide of 2-chlorobenzoic acid and IV—provided with selenoorganic compound B of ring structure 3-(2-chlorobenzoylamino-)-2-(o-tolylimino-)-4-methyl-4-selenazoline. Rats were treated by stomach tube at a dose of 5 × 10⁻⁴ mg of selenium/g of b.w. once a day for a period of 10 days. In brain homogenates total antioxidant status (TAS), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as concentration of malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) were determined. TAS was insignificantly diminished in all selenium-supplemented groups versus control. SOD was not significantly influenced by administration of selenium. GPx was markedly decreased in group III versus control, whereas increased in group IV versus control and group III. Selenosemicarbazide depleted AA in well-marked way versus group II. GSH was significantly depressed in group III versus both control and group II and diminished in group IV versus group II. MDA was significantly decreased in group III versus both control and group II, whereas in group IV increased versus group III. As selenazoline A did not decrease elements of antioxidant barrier and increased GPx activity, it seems to be a promising agent for future studies concerning its possible application as a selenium supplement.

The oxidative damage and disbalance of calcium homeostasis in brain of chicken induced by selenium deficiency

Dietary selenium (Se) deficiency can influence the function of the brain. Our objective was to investigate the effects of Se deficiency on oxidative damage and calcium (Ca) homeostasis in brain of chicken. In the present study, 1-day-old chickens were fed either a commercial diet (as control group) with 0.15 mg/kg Se or a Se-deficient diet (as L group) with 0.033 mg/kg Se for 75 days. Then, brain injury biomarkers were examined, including histological analysis, ultrastructure assay, and apoptosis assay. We also examined the effect of Se deficiency on the Se-containing antioxidative enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), the level of glutathione (GSH), and the Ca homeostasis in brain of chicken. The results showed that the levels of Se and GSH and activity of GSH-Px are seriously reduced by 33.8-96 % (P < 0.001), 24.51-27.84 % (P < 0.001), and 20.70-64.24 % (P < 0.01), respectively. In the present study, we also perform histological analysis and ultrastructure assay and find that Se deficiency caused disorganized histological structure, damage to the mitochondria, fusion of nuclear membrane and nucleus shrinkage, higher apoptosis rate (P < 0.001), and increase of Ca homeostasis (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 or P < 0.001) in the brain of chicken. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that Se deficiency induced oxidative damage and disbalance of Ca homeostasis in the brain of chicken. Similar to mammals, chickens brain is also extremely susceptible to oxidative damage and selenium deficiency.

Regulation of expression and activity of selenoenzymes by different forms and concentrations of selenium in primary cultured chicken hepatocytes

The expression and activity of selenoenzymes are regulated by Se. In the present study, the effects of different forms and concentrations of Se on the regulation of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and phospholipid hydroperoxide GPx (GPx4) and type I deiodinase (D1) mRNA levels in chicken hepatocytes were evaluated. Primary cultured chicken hepatocyte monolayers derived from male White Leghorn chickens (aged 30–40 d) were incubated for 24 h with 0 (control), 0·5, 1, 1·5, 2, 3, 4 or 5 μmol/l of Se supplied as dl-selenomethionine (Se-Met), κ-selenocarrageenan (Se-Car) or sodium selenite (Na2SeO3). Compared with the control, Se significantly increased GPx activity in all the hepatocytes, but the activity was not increased in the hepatocytes treated with 5 μmol/l of Na2SeO3, with maximal effects being observed at 2 μmol/l of Se-Met or Se-Car and at 1·5 μmol/l of Na2SeO3, respectively. Significant decreases in GPx4 mRNA levels were observed in all the hepatocytes treated with Se (v. control). The D1 mRNA levels were significantly increased in all the groups treated with Se (v. control), with maximal effects being observed at 1·5 μmol/l of Se-Met and at 0·5 μmol/l of Se-Car or Na2SeO3, respectively. Se-Met at doses of 1·5–5 μmol/l had a greater effect on D1 mRNA than Se-Car and Na2SeO3 at equivalent doses. After resulting in a maximal effect, higher Se supplementation led to a dose-dependent reduction in GPx activity and D1 mRNA levels in all the hepatocytes treated with Se. These results suggest that in chicken hepatocytes, the regulations of GPx and D1 by different forms and concentrations of Se vary.

Selenium modulates oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis in human myeloid HL-60 cells through regulation of calcium release and caspase-3 and -9 activities

Selenium is an essential chemopreventive antioxidant element to oxidative stress, although high concentrations of selenium induce toxic and oxidative effects on the human body. However, the mechanisms behind these effects remain elusive. We investigated toxic effects of different selenium concentrations in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells by evaluating Ca(2+) mobilization, cell viability and caspase-3 and -9 activities at different sample times. We found the toxic concentration and toxic time of H(2)O(2) as 100 microM: and 10 h on cell viability in the cells using four different concentrations of H(2)O(2) (1 microM: -1 mM: ) and six different incubation times (30 min, 1, 2, 5, 10, 24 h). Then, we found the therapeutic concentration of selenium to be 200 nM: by cells incubated in eight different concentrations of selenium (10 nM: -1 mM: ) for 1 h. We measured Ca(2+) release, cell viability and caspase-3 and -9 activities in cells incubated with high and low selenium concentrations at 30 min and 1, 2, 5, 10 and 24 h. Selenium (200 nM: ) elicited mild endoplasmic reticulum stress and mediated cell survival by modulating Ca(2+) release, the caspases and cell apoptosis, whereas selenium concentrations as high as 1 mM: induced severe endoplasmic reticulum stress and caused cell death by activating modulating Ca(2+) release, the caspases and cell apoptosis. In conclusion, these results explained the molecular mechanisms of the chemoprotective effect of different concentrations of selenium on oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.