Mercuric chloride induced hepatotoxic and hematologic changes in rats: The protective effects of sodium selenite and vitamin E

• Published in: Toxicology and industrial health 2016-09, Vol.32 (9), p.1651-1662
• Main Authors: Uzunhisarcikli, Meltem, Aslanturk, Ayse, Kalender, Suna, Apaydin, Fatma Gokce, Bas, Hatice
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Biomarkers - blood; Biomarkers - metabolism; Body weight; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - metabolism; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - pathology; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - physiopathology; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - prevention & control; Chlorides; Cholesterol; Dietary Supplements; Hepatic Insufficiency - etiology; Hepatic Insufficiency - prevention & control; Hepatotoxicity; Leukocyte Count; Leukocytosis - etiology; Leukocytosis - prevention & control; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Liver - pathology; Liver - physiopathology; Male; Mercuric Chloride - toxicity; Mercury compounds; Mercury Poisoning - metabolism; Mercury Poisoning - pathology; Mercury Poisoning - physiopathology; Mercury Poisoning - prevention & control; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Platelet Count; Protective Agents - therapeutic use; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Rodents; Selenites; Serums; Sodium; Sodium Selenite - therapeutic use; Thrombocytosis - etiology; Thrombocytosis - prevention & control; Vitamin E; Vitamin E - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0748-2337; 1477-0393
• DOI: 10.1177/0748233715572561

This study focuses on investigating the possible protective effect of sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) and/or vitamin E against mercuric chloride (HgCl2)-induced hepatotoxicity in rat. Male rats were given HgCl2 (1 mg/kg body weight (bw)) and HgCl2 plus Na2SeO3 (0.25 mg/kg bw) and/or vitamin E (100 mg/kg bw) daily via gavage for 4 weeks. HgCl2-treated groups had significantly higher white blood cell and thrombocyte counts than the control group. Serum activities of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl-transferase, and lactate dehydrogenase significantly increased and serum levels of total protein, albumin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly decreased in the HgCl2-treated groups compared with control group. Malondialdehyde level significantly increased and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities decreased in liver tissue of HgCl2-treated rats. Also, HgCl2 exposure resulted in histopathological changes. Supplementation of Na2SeO3 and/or vitamin E provided partial protection in hematological and biochemical parameters that were altered by HgCl2. As a result, Na2SeO3 and/or vitamin E significantly reduced HgCl2-induced hepatotoxicity, but not protected completely.