The study of possible application of sodium selenite as an adjuvant in lithium treatment: an effect on oxidative processes in heart of rats.

OBJECTIVE: Despite numerous side effects, including heart disturbances, lithium is still used in medicine. Selenium treatment can protect against toxicity of harmful substances and side effects of other drugs. In this study possibility of sodium selenite application as an adjuvant in lithium treatment was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats were treated with: control - saline; Li group - Li2CO3 (2.7 mg Li/kg b.w.); Se group - Na2SeO3 (0.5 mg Se/kg b.w.); Li+Se group simultaneously with Li2CO3 and Na2SeO3 (2.7 mg Li/kg b.w. and 0.5 mg Se/kg b.w., respectively) by stomach tube for a period of six weeks, once a day. In heart homogenates total antioxidant status (TAS), activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as well as concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) were determined. SOD/GPx, CAT/GPx and SOD/CAT ratios were evaluated. RESULTS: TAS was insignificantly increased, particularly in groups receiving selenium. GPx was slightly decreased in Li group and partially restored by Li+Se treatment. Selenium markedly enhanced AA concentration vs. CONTROL: MDA was increased significantly in Li and Se groups and restored in Li+Se treated. SOD/GPx and CAT/GPx. Ratios were slightly increased in Li group and restored by selenium co-administration. CONCLUSIONS: As Li+Se treatment resulted in no significant differences vs. control and restored MDA, SOD/GPx and CAT/GPx ratios. Research on selenium application during lithium therapy seems to be worth continuation.

The protective influence of selenium on oxidant disturbances in brain of rats exposed to lithium.

For more than sixty years lithium carbonate has been used in medicine. However, during its administration different side effects including oxidative stress can occur. Selenium belongs to essential elements possessing antioxidant properties. This study aimed at evaluating if selenium could be used as a protective adjuvant in lithium therapy. The experiment was performed on four groups of Wistar rats: I (control), II (Li), III (Se), IV (Li + Se) treated with saline, lithium carbonate (2.7 mg Li/kg b.w.), sodium selenite (0.5 mg Se/kg b.w.) and lithium carbonate (2.7 mg Li/kg b.w.) + sodium selenite (0.5 mg Se/kg b.w.), respectively. All substances were administered as water solutions by stomach tube for 3 or 6 weeks. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as well as malonyldialdehyde (MDA) were determined in brain homogenates. Lithium slightly enhanced MDA and depressed CAT and SOD after 6 weeks as well as GPx after 3 weeks. Selenium co-administration showed tendency to restore the disturbed parameters. Selenium alone and given with lithium significantly increased GPx vs. Li-treated group after 3 weeks. Having regarded the outcomes of this study, the research on application of selenium during lithium treatment seems to be worth continuation.

Immunomodulatory effect of selenosemicarbazides and selenium inorganic compounds, distribution in organs after selenium supplementation.

Antioxidant properties of selenium producing a protective barrier against free radicals play an important role in numerous metabolic and immunologic processes associated with oxidation-reduction reactions which take place during intracellular digestion of phagocyted bacteria. The aim of our study was to examine the properties of an organic compound of selenium, 4-(o-tolilo)-selenosemicarbazide of p-chlorobenzoic acid in terms of its retention in organs, effect on erythropoesis and phagocytic abilities of neutrophiles as well as antioxidant properties in neutrophiles tested with NBT test. This compound as well as inorganic sodium selenate was given to Swiss mice at the dose of 10(-3) g Se/kg for the period of 10 days. The concentrations of selenium in livers of mice treated with sodium selenate and selenosemicarbazide were found to be higher than in controls (18.7 micrograms lg-1 and 23.2 micrograms lg-1 vs. 12 micrograms lg-1, respectively). Analysis of blood cells count has shown a significant decrease in neutrophile levels in both groups treated with selenium. The influence of selenium compounds on phagocytosis and especially NBT test has been determined (3.8% of positive cells in the controls vs. 2.2% and 0.9% in the groups treated with sodium selenate and selenosemicarbazide, respectively). Our preliminary investigations suggest that selenosemicarbazides are biologically active compounds and can modify neutrophile functions.

[Selenazoles. XII. (1) Reaction of 4-(p-tolyl)-selenosemi-carbazides of acetic, benzoic, isonicotinic, nicotinic and picolinic acid with omega-acetophenone]. / Selenazole. XII. (1) Reakcje 4-(p-tolilo)-selenosemikarbazydow kwasu octowego, benzoesowego, izonikotynowego, nikotynowego i pikolinowego z omega-bromoacetofenonem.

The cyclization of 4-(p-tolyl)-selenosemicarbazides of acetic, benzoic, isonicotinic, nicotinic and picolinic acids (Ia-e) with omega-bromoacetophenone was investigated in the medium of methanol (Method A) or in methanol in the presence of anhydrous sodium acetate (Method B). Acid hydrolysis of compounds IIf-i and IVa-c, e was studied. Results of UV and IR spectrometric measurements and of the in vitro microbiological studies are presented. In contradistinction to corresponding thiosemicarbazides, the change in N4 nitrogen atom basicity of the parent selenosemicarbazide I (pKa of p-toluidine = 5.1), in comparison to that of 4-phenyl-selenosemicarbazide (pKa of aniline = 4.63), proved to influence the equilibrium of the reaction with omega-bromoacetophenone only in the methanol medium without addition of anhydrous sodium acetate (Method A).