TOXICITY STUDIES OF A NEW SELENIUM COMPOUND, SELOL, IN RATS

Selol is a new organoselenium compound synthesized in the Department o f Drug Analysis, Warsaw. The general acute and cumulative toxicities o f Selol were tested in rats. The compound did not display any toxic ef fects after parenteral administration up to 500 mg/kg(-1) s.c. and 100 mg/kg(-1) i.p. However, given orally it exhibited high toxicity. LD(5 0) value after a single oral administration amounted to 100 mg/kg(-1) and after administration in an increasing-dose schedule to 80 mg/kg(-1 ). On the basis of these results the authors conclude that Selol may b e converted to a more toxic product during digestion. Therefore. Selol as a source of selenium is safer given by the parenteral route.