Changes in biochemical parameters in rabbits blood after oral exposure to diphenyl diselenide for long periods

The concept that selenium-containing molecules may be better antioxidants than classical antioxidants, has led to the design of synthetic organoselenium compounds. The present study was conducted to evaluate the potential toxicity of long time oral exposure to diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2 in rabbits. Male adult New Zealand rabbits were divided into four groups, group I served as control; groups II, III and IV received 0.3, 3.0 and 30 ppm of (PhSe)2 pulverized in the chow for 8 months. A number of parameters were examined in blood as indicators of toxicity, including δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALA-D), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea, creatinine, TBARS, non-protein-SH, ascorbic acid and selenium. The results demonstrated that 6 and 8 months of 30 ppm (PhSe)2 intake caused a significant increase in blood δ-ALA-D activity. Erythrocyte non-protein thiol levels were significantly increased after 2 months of 30 ppm (PhSe)2 intake and then return to control levels after prolonged periods of intake. Ingestion of 3.0 ppm of (PhSe)2 for 8 months significantly increased catalase activity in erythrocytes. Conversely, no alterations in GPx, ALT, AST, TBARS and selenium levels were observed in rabbit serum, conversely, selenium levels in peri-renal adipose tissue were significantly increased after 8 months of 30 ppm (PhSe)2 intake, indicating its great lipophylicity. The present results suggest that diphenyl diselenide was not hepato- or renotoxic for rabbits, but caused some biochemical alterations that can be related to some pro-oxidant activity of the compound (particularly the reduction in Vitamin C).