Glutathione peroxidase response in tissues of rats fed diets containing fish protein concentrate prepared from shark flesh of known mercury and selenium contents

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01622058· OSTI ID:6594201

Thrower, S J ^[1]; Andrewartha, K A

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1. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Hobart, Australia

Studies have been reported using experimental animals and synthetic diets containing selenium and mercury compounds to demonstrate detoxification of mercury by selenium. The mechanism of detoxification remains obscure. Most experiments have involved the use of high levels of both elements and relied on the observation of gross symptoms. The measurement of enzyme systems may be useful in detecting effects of mercury at a lower, subclinical level and in elucidating the biochemistry of mercury/selenium interactions. The activity of the selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in rats is dependent on dietary selenium and attempts have been made to use this enzyme as an indicator of mercury/selenium interactions. The research described in this paper was designed to investigate the effect of mercury, in the form and amounts which occur naturally in seafood, on the availability of selenium at levels approximating the nutritional requirement. In anticipation of mercury lowering the GSH-Px response a range of selenium concentrations was used, from nutritional deficiency to three times the nutritional requirement.

• OSTI ID: 6594201
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Vol. 26:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
MERCURY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
PEROXIDASES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
SELENIUM
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
BLOOD
BRAIN
DETOXIFICATION
DIET
ERYTHROCYTES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GLUTATHIONE
INGESTION
KIDNEYS
LIVER
RATS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DATA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DRUGS
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
GLANDS
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METALS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PEPTIDES
POLYPEPTIDES
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RODENTS
SEMIMETALS
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)
550200 - Biochemistry