Effect of selenium on the change in cadmium-induced distribution of trace elements in pregnant rats

To probe into the antagonistic mechanism of selenium on the toxicity of cadmium (Cd)-induced embryos and pregnant rats, the effect of supplement selenium (Se) on change of trace elements distribution and Cd-redistribution in Cd-induced Wistar rats was studied. 18 pregnant rats. on 0 day of gestation were divided into 3 groups. A group - Cd toxication, B Group - Cd toxicaion + Se inhibited, C group - control. The results showed that 1. copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), Se and Cd distributions in group A had significantly changed compared with group C: Cu contents increased in blood, liver and kidney; Zn and Se contents decreased remarkably; Mn decreased in blood, but increased in kidney and did not significantly change in Liver, while Cd contents in blood, liver and kidney were much higher than that of group C, which were 1217.5, 1305, 773.1 times as many as control group respectively. 2. Oral administration Se led to Cd redistribution in blood, liver, kidney of group B; (Cd decreased 78.0%, 50.3%, 53.0% respectively compared with group A) and had interference and antagonistic effect on the change in Cd-induced distribution of Cu, Zn, Mn, Se in rats; the content of blood Cu was significantly higher than that in group A and C (p < 0.01); the contents of Cu in liver and kidney were remarkably lower than that in group A (p < 0.01); Zn, Se contents were increased; blood Mn higher, while Liver and kidney Mn lower than that ingroup A (p < 0.01). The results indicated that antagonistic mechanism of Se against toxicity of Cd-induced embryos and pregnant rats could lead to Cd-redistribution and decrease free-Cd concentration in blood, liver and kidney; besides, Se also had remarkable antagonistic effect on the change in Cd-induced distribution of Cu, Zn, Mn, Se in rats, which enabled the distribution of these trace elements to approach normal equilibrium.