Protective effects of selenium on azathioprine hepatotoxicity in mice / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

The changes of alanine amino-transferase (ALT) in plasma, glutathione (GSH) in the whole blood, the malondialdehyde(MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the liver's tissue in mice were studied in the group with azathioprine (Aza) 10 mg?kg-1?d-1 and in the group with Aza mixed selenium (Se) 1 mg ?kg-1?d-l for 1 and 2 weeks. The results showed that in the Aza group, the levels of ALT, MDA increased and that of GSH, GSH-Px decreased significantly at 1 wk and 2 wk. But in the Se group the levels of ALT, MDA decreased and that of GSH, GSH-Px increased significantly, which approached the nor-mal level. The hepatocytes degeneration and necrosis were observed by light microscope in Aza group but not in Se group. The results indicated that Se had protective effects on Aza hepa-totoxicity in mice.