Uptake of 75-selenium into the central nervous system of the rat

These experiments have investigated selenium movement between blood and the CNS in anaesthetized rats. Each animal was anaesthetized and the left femoral blood vessels cannulated for blood withdrawal and solute infusion. Each rat received 75-Se as sodium selenite infused in normal saline and experiments lasted between 5 minutes and 5 hours during which blood samples were periodically taken. At termination, the CNS was removed, dissected and analysed with the plasma samples for 75-Se radioactivity by gamma-counting. Data were analyzed by multiple-time uptake analysis. Results showed unidirectional uptake of 75-Se into the CNS and some regional differences were found. On average the CNS influx rate constant (K-in) was about 7 +/- 1 X 10(-5) ml/min/g. This indicates that the 75-Se most likely entered the CNS in a protein-bound form.