The Protective Roles of Selenium on Hepatic Tissue Ultrastructure and Mitochondrial Antioxidant Capacity in Copper-Overloaded Rats

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of selenium addition on hepatic tissue ultrastructure and mitochondrial antioxidant capacity in copper-overloaded rats. Eighteen adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 6 per group). Each group received 1 mL (intragastrically) of water (control, group I) or water containing copper chloride (CuCl2, 1 mol/L) (group II) or a mixture of CuCl2 (1 mol/L) with sodium selenite (Na2SeO3, 0.05 mol/L) (group III) once daily for 30 days. Histological examination revealed normal hepatocyte structure and no ultrastructural changes in mitochondria in controls. In contrast, group II exhibited severe ultrastructural alterations, fuzzy mitochondrial membranes, irregularly shaped and fragmented rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), and the high melanin content; group III also exhibited larger amounts of engulfing vesicles (EV) in the cytoplasm. Compared to controls, the CuCl2 treatment lowered (P < 0.05) hepatocyte enzymatic activities and increased lipid peroxidation as indicated by an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The effects of CuCl2 were attenuated by simultaneous administration with Na2SeO3. These results indicated that the adverse effects of copper toxicity can be partially attenuated by providing a source of selenium.