The Protective Role of Selenium Against Oxidative Damage Induced by Cadmium in Albino Rats

The protective role of selenium (Se) on antioxidant defense system in liver and kidneys of rats with cadmium (Cd)-induced toxicity was investigated by monitoring the lipid peroxides, enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidant activities.Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: Group I; Control group, group II; Rats given Cd (20mg Cd/kg body weight/day as CdCl2 for 4 weeks); group III; Given only Se (0.8mg Se/kg body weight/day as Na2SeO3 for 4 weeks), group IV; Given Cd+Se (in above mentioned amounts).The results revealed that, Cd exposure resulted in increase in lipid peroxidation (LP) in serum, liver and kidney tissues. Vitamin C (Vit C) was decreased in liver serum, whereas vitamin E (Vit E) was increased in liver, kidneys serum of Cd exposed animals. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were decreased in serum both tissues, whereas catalase (CAT) activity was decreased in liver serum. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) was increased in serum both tissues. Treatment with Se alone significantly increased liver, kidneys serum SOD and GSH-Px activities, as well as CAT and GST activities only in liver serum. In animals exposed to Se both the concentrations of Vit C and Vit E were increased in serum both tissues. Cd treatment with Se resulted in reversal of oxidative stress. Our results show that Se may protect liver and kidney from Cd-induced oxidative stress by decreasing LP and altering antioxidant defense system in liver and kidneys of rats.