PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF SELENITE AGAINST METHYLMERCURY TOXICITY: OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING TIME, DOSE AND ROUTE FACTORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELENIUM ATTENUATION

Abstract

Protective effect of selenite against methylmercury toxicity was observed in ex-perimentally induced acute and subacute methylmercury poisoning of rats. The protection becomes more evident as the acuteness of methylmercury poisoning de-creases in terms of the total methylmercury dosage administered and the number of survival days after the last dosing, and there appears to be present an optimal dose relationship between the two substances. Protective effect of selenium is likewise clear in subacute methylmercury poisoning in regard to growth rate, incidence of neurological signs and mortality. We did not observe any differences in the protec-tion when administration route was changed.