Effect of Selenium Supplementation on Rats Exposed to Cadmium or Lead

1 “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Iaşi, Romania 2 “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Iaşi, Romania ABSTRACT. The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of selenium supplementation on serum amylase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in rats, during subacute exposure to toxic doses of cadmium or lead through the drinking water. The experimental groups (n=6) were: Control, Se (Se: 0,2 mg/l), Cd (Cd: 150 mg/l), Pb (Pb: 300 mg/l), Cd+Se (Cd: 150 mg/l; Se: 0,2 mg/l) and Pb+Se (Pb: 300 mg/l; Se: 0,2 mg/l). The animals were sacrificed after 56 days. Amylase, LDH and ALP activities were determined from serum. Se and Pb treatments caused an increase in amylase and LDH activities, when compared to Control group while Cd caused an increase in amylase activity and a decrease in LDH and ALP activities. Cd+Se caused a decrease in amylase activity and an increase in LDH activity, when compared to Cd. Pb+Se caused a decrease in amylase activity in comparison to lead. Selenium supplementation alleviated cadmium or lead induced changes in serum amylase activity. Selenium, coadministered with cadmium, caused a marked increase in serum LDH activity, when compared to cadmium alone or Control group while practically it had no effect on lead induced changes in LDH activity. Cadmium and lead induced disturbances in serum ALP activity were not influenced by selenium supplementation.