Sub-acute Exposure to Sodium Selenite-induced Dyslipidemia, ATPase-independent Electrolytes Disruption and Tissue Damage in Male Wistar Rats

Selenium (Se) is a trace element required for many cellular functions in most organisms although also known to be toxic, has a narrow range separating chronic conditions of deficiency and toxicity. This study investigated the effects of exposure to different doses of Se as sodium selenite on some biochemical markers in male albino rats. Twenty-four rats grouped into four with six animals each were used. One of the groups served as control given distilled water and the other three groups were respectively given 16, 32, and 64 ppm Se orally in their drinking water for 4 weeks. Animals were sacrificed thereafter, blood and tissues were collected, and biochemical parameters carried out using spectrophotometric method. In the plasma of exposed animals, activities of both aspartate and alanine transaminases (AST and ALT) were significantly increased while significant decrease in albumin and direct bilirubin levels were observed when compared to control. Exposure to Se also resulted in decreased levels of HDL triacylglycerol (TAG) and cholesterol (Chol), while increasing those of VLDL + LDL. In the tissues, TAG levels were decreased while hepatic Chol level increased. Furthermore, Se disrupted electrolyte homeostasis in the different compartments studied independent of the ATPases. These results thus point out some of the cellular alterations caused by sodium selenite exposure and may proffer biochemical basis for some of the clinical manifestations of selenium toxicity.