Effects of selenium dioxide on blood and femoral bone marrow of rats

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of selenium dioxide (SeO2) on rat blood and femoral bone-marrow oxidant mechanisms. Treatment with SeO2, 67 mu g Se/kg ip daily for 14 d, significantly decreased lipid peroxidation and the concentrations of Fe in serum and bone marrow. The concentrations of Se in serum and bone-marrow cells were significantly increased after SeO2 treatment. The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in blood and bone-marrow cells were markedly increased. The levels of oxyhemoglobin in blood were significantly increased, while the concentrations of methemoglobin were decreased after SeO2 administration. The fragility of erythrocytes membranes was significantly decreased in SeO2-treated rats compared to controls. Data suggest that treatment with a low dose of SeO2 may provide antioxidant nutrients to blood and bone marrow.