EFFECT OF SELENIUM ON VANADIUM TOXICITY IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF RAT-BRAIN

The protective effect of selenium on the neurotoxicity of vanadium in different brain regions of rats was investigated. The lipid peroxidati on was significantly accentuated after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administ ration of vanadium (1.5 mg kg(-1) b.wt) for a period of 12 consecutive days to rats. The increase in lipid peroxidation was inhibited by sel enium treatment (0.02 mg kg(-1) b.wt., i.p.) for 12 consecutive days. Vanadium exposure produced a decrease in nonprotein sulfhydryl group. Selenium treatment prevented the depression in nonprotein sulfhydryl g roup in all the brain regions of the vanadium exposed rats. The concen tration of ascorbic acid was decreased after co-administration of sele nium and vanadium. These results suggest that selenium protects neuron al cells against neurotoxic effects of vanadium by maintaining the ava ilability of antioxidant nonprotein sulfhydryl groups. The decrease in ascorbic acid levels may have been due to its consumption in forming complexes with vanadium.