The effect of selenium on the hepatic drug metabolism and inducibility in rat

Abstract

1. 1. Rats were fed either a normal or selenium-deficient diet for 4 weeks. The subgroup on selenium deficient diet had selenium supplementation as 3 ppm Se in the drinking water. Benzo(a)pyrene was given intraperitoneally as an inducer. 2. 2. Se deficiency decreased glutathione peroxidase and cytochrome c-reductase activities while other activities were unchanged as compared to normal diet. 3. 3. Selenium deficiency was a prerequisite for the induction of glutathione peroxidase, S-reductase and S-transferase enzymes. 4. 4. Benzo(a)pyrene increased hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 content in rats on normal and selenium supplemented diet but not in the selenium deficient group. 5. 5. The 7-ethoxyresorufin and 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and cytochrome c-reductase activities were increased by benzo(a)pyrene in all the dietary groups. 6. 6. The UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity was also increased by benzo(a)pyrene in all the experimental groups and this was true with p-nitrophenol and phenolphthalein as aglycons.