Eighteen weanling male Wistar rats with brain gliomas were divided int
o three groups, which received 0., 2.0, 5.0 ppm selenium (Se) in their
drinking water. The accumulation and retention of selenium in the bra
in bearing tumor was investigated. Significantly higher concentrations
of Se were observed in tumor tissue than normal brain tissue after ex
posure to sodium selenite. Tumors were observed in the 2.0 mu g/g sele
nium group. The difference in selenium concentration between the tumor
tissue and contralateral normal brain tissue was not influenced by th
e weight of brain or body, and water consumption. We observed that sel
enium accumulated in tumor tissue more than in normal brain tissue.