Effects of selenium on rat's hepatocellular DNA synthesis and cell cycle changes

  Objective   To explore effects of selenium on rat's hepatocellular DNA synthesis and cell cycle changes.

  Methods   So dium selenite at the dose of 5, 10 and 20 μmol/kg were given to rats by i.p.and there were 5 male SD rats in each group.Hepato cellular DNA damage was measured with single cell gel electrophoresis(or comet assay), DNA relatiev content (DNA_RC)and cell cycle were detected with flow cytometry.

  Results   At the dose of 10 and 20 μmol/kg, sodium selenite could reduce cell number of G₀/G₁ period, but significantly.At the dose of 5μmol/kg, sodium selenite could also reduce cell number of G₀/G₁ per iod, but insignificantly.The changes of proliferation index and cell number in S and G₂/M period were unobvious.Sodium selenite at the dose of 5, 10μmol/kg and 20μmol/kg could increase DNA damage rate and decerease DNA_RC significantly.There was negative correlation between DNA damage rate and DNA relative content.Correlative coefficient was -0.998 7(P < 0.01).

  Conclusion   Selenium at certain dose could change cell cycle and interfere with DNA synthesis throug h increasing DNA damage rate and decreasing DNA relative content in rat liver cells.