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Effect of Low-Dose Selenium Supplementation on the Genotoxicity, Tissue Injury and Survival of Mice Exposed to Acute Whole-Body Irradiation

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Abstract

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the radioprotective effect of low-dose selenium supplementation (multiple administrations) on radiation toxicities and mortality induced by lethal dose of whole-body irradiation (WBI). For this, BALB/c mice received sodium selenite (4 μg/kg body wt) intraperitoneally for five consecutive days and subjected to WBI at an absorbed dose of 8 Gy (60Co, 1 Gy/min). Administration of sodium selenite was continued even during the post irradiation days three times a week till the end of the experiment. The radioprotective effect was evaluated in terms of the improvement in 30 days post irradiation survival, protection from DNA damage, and biochemical and histological changes in radiosensitive organs. The results indicated that low-dose sodium selenite administration did not protect the mice from radiation-induced hematopoietic and gastrointestinal injuries and subsequent mortality. However, it significantly prevented the radiation-induced genotoxicity or DNA damage in peripheral leukocytes. Further sodium selenite administration modulated the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of GPx1, GPx2, and GPx4 in the spleen and intestine differentially and led to a significant increase in GPx activity (∼1.5 to 2-folds) in these organs. In line with this observation, sodium selenite administration reduced the level of lipid peroxidation in the intestine. In conclusion, our study shows that low-dose sodium selenite supplementation can be an effective strategy to prevent WBI-induced genotoxicity but may not have an advantage against mortality sustained during nuclear emergencies.

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Acknowledgments

Miss Prachi Verma acknowledges the Homi Bhabha National Institute for financial assistance in the form of senior research fellowship. The authors also wish to thank Dr. (Smt) S. Suvarna and Mr. G. Kiran Kumar of the Analytical Chemistry Division, Chemistry Group, BARC, for providing help in the selenium estimation in the mice chow.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiation and Photochemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India

    Prachi Verma & Amit Kunwar

  2. Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, 400094, India

    Prachi Verma, Amit Kunwar & K. Indira Priyadarsini

  3. Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India

    K. Indira Priyadarsini

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  1. Prachi Verma
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  2. Amit Kunwar
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Correspondence to Amit Kunwar.

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Verma, P., Kunwar, A. & Indira Priyadarsini, K. Effect of Low-Dose Selenium Supplementation on the Genotoxicity, Tissue Injury and Survival of Mice Exposed to Acute Whole-Body Irradiation. Biol Trace Elem Res 179, 130–139 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-017-0955-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-017-0955-9

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