Effect of selenium on distribution, demethylation, and excretion of methylmercury by the guinea pig

Abstract

The influence of selenium on methylmercury excretion, organ and subcellular distribution, and demethylation was studied in the guinea pig at different times following a single equimolar dose (50 μM/kg) of CH ²⁰³ ₃ HgCl and Na ₂ SeO ₃ administered separately or concomitantly per os. Excretion of mercury through feces was the dominant clearance pathway in both groups. Selenium significantly decreased excretion of total and organic mercury in feces during the course of the study, but in the urine only on d 13. Selenium also significantly decreased the concentration of total mercury in major organs. The exception was brain on d 1, in which mercury levels were higher in the presence of selenium; however, on d 7 and 13 both cerebrum and cerebellum showed lower mercury levels as compared to the group treated with methylmercury alone. Selenium had no significant effect on the subcellular mercury distribution in the liver, kidney, and cerebrum, other than that which could be accounted for the whole organ uptake. The level of organic mercury in most of the analyzed organs was significantly decreased by the presence of selenium; however, relative proportions of inorganic to organic mercury remain unchanged. The single exception was kidney, where selenium markedly decreased the relative amount of inorganic mercury.