Role of selenium on antioxidant capacity in methomyl-treated mice

RESUMEN

Methomyl carbamate is a pesticide widely used in the control of insects. The presentwork aims at studying the effect of selenium on the antioxidant system ofmethomyl-treated mice. Swiss albino mice were intraperitoneally administered a singledose of methomyl (7 mg/Kg body weight). Mice of another group were injectedwith sodium selenite (5 µmole/Kg b.wt.) 7 days before methomyl intoxication. After24 hours, methomyl exposure resulted in significant increase in lactic dehydrogenaseactivity (LDH). The antioxidant capacity of hepatic cells in terms of the activities ofsuperoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione (GSH) content was diminished. Itappears that methomyl exerts its toxic effect via peroxidative damage to hepatic, renaland splenic cell membranes. Also, methomyl induced DNA damage in these organsas detected by alkaline filter elution technique. The distribution of methomyl in differentorgans of mice was detected by HPLC. Selenium administration prior tomethomyl injection produced pronounced protective action against methomyleffects. It is observed that selenium enhances the endogenous antioxidant capacity ofthe cells by increasing the activities of SOD, CAT, GR and GST as well as increasingGSH content. The activity of LDH was decreased in blood and the damage ofDNA was suppressed comparable to controls. In conclusion, the adverse effects ofmethomyl in mice could be ameliorated by selenium