The interactive effects of selenomethionine and methylmercury on their absorption, disposition, and elimination in juvenile white sturgeon

• Published in: Aquatic toxicology 2013-01, Vol.126 (15), p.274-282
• Main Authors: Huang, Susie Shih-Yin, Strathe, Anders Bjerring, Fadel, James G., Johnson, Michael L., Lin, Pinpin, Liu, Tsung-Yun, Hung, Silas S.O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Acipenser; Acipenser transmontanus; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Bayesian modeling; Biological and medical sciences; blood; body weight; brain; digestive system; Drug Interactions; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Fishes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; General aspects. Techniques; industrialization; kidneys; Kinetics; mammals; Mercury; Metabolism; Methods and techniques (sampling, tagging, trapping, modelling...); methylmercury compounds; Methylmercury Compounds - analysis; Methylmercury Compounds - blood; Methylmercury Compounds - metabolism; pollutants; risk; Selenium; selenomethionine; Selenomethionine - analysis; Selenomethionine - blood; Selenomethionine - metabolism; selenoproteins; sturgeon; Tissue Distribution; urine; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; watersheds
• ISSN: 0166-445X; 1879-1514
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2012.09.018

► The interaction significantly affected tissue concentrations of both Se and Hg. ► Reduction in Se tissue concentration is likely due to reduced Se absorption. ► Effects on tissue Hg are likely to be post absorption. ► Tissue Se:Hg molar ratios above 1 are maintained even in the absence of exogenous Se. Selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) are prevalent pollutants of industrialized watersheds. However, when co-administered, Se has protective effects on organisms from Hg. The mechanism is not fully understood, but it is thought that Se reduces Hg availability, either by forming biologically inert complexes and/or associating with selenoproteins. Despite concerns with aquatic contaminations, relatively little information is available on the interaction in aquatic organisms. In the present study, the interactive effects of Se and Hg on their absorption, disposition, and elimination were examined in juvenile white sturgeon, a benthic fish species at high risk to exposures of both contaminants. Selenium and Hg were provided as l-selenomethionine (SeMet) and methylmercury (MeHg), respectively. Groups of 10 sturgeon were orally intubated with a single dose of either 0 (control), SeMet (500μg Se/kg body weight; BW), MeHg (850μg Hg/kg BW), or their combination (Se/Hg; 500μg Se/kg and 850μg Hg/kg BW). The blood was repeatedly sampled and urine collected from the fish, over a 48h post intubation period. At 48h, the fish were sacrificed for Se and Hg tissue concentration and distribution. The co-administration of SeMet and MeHg significantly (p