Chromosome damage induced by selenium salts in human peripheral lymphocytes

Two inorganic salts of selenium, sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) and sodium selen ate (Na2SeO4), were screened for damage to chromosome and cell division fol lowing exposure to human lymphocyte cultures. In vitro exposure of human pe ripheral blood lymphocytes to high concentration of two inorganic salts of selenium-sodium selenite (2.9 x 10(-5) M) and sodium selenate (2.65 x 10(-5 ) M)-was found to be lethal; no blast cells being formed. Lower concentrati ons of both salts, 5.8 x 10(-6) M and 1.06 x 10(-5) Rr, respectively. were highly mitostatic. lower concentrations of sodium selenite (2.9 x 10(-6) hr , 1.16 x 10(-6) M and 2.32 x 10(-7) M) and sodium selenate (5.3 x 10(-6) M, 2.65 x 10(-6) hr and 1.06 x 10(-6) M), respectively, induced chromosomal a berrations and reduced cell division in proportions directly related to the dose. Sodium selenite was considerably more clastogenic than sodium selena te. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.