The Protective effect of selenite ions on catalase activity in the brain of aliuminium-treated mice

Aim: The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of selenite (SeO32-) ions on catalase activity in aluminium (Al) ion-treated mice brain. Methods: Experiments were done on outbred white laboratory mice using intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of AlCl3 and/or Na2SeO3 solutions. Control mice were i.p. injected with the same volume of saline (0.9% NaCl). The exposure-time was 24 h or 14 days. Catalase activity in mice brain was determined by reaction with ammonium molybdate which give a yellow complex with hydrogen peroxide that absorbs 410 nm light wavelength. Results: Following 24 h after i.p. injections of AlCl3 (0.5 LD50) and Na2SeO3 (0.025 LD50) solutions alone or in their combination, catalase activities in mice brain remained at the control levels. After 14 days of daily injections of AlCl3 solution (0.1, 0.15 and 0.25 LD50), the activity of catalase increased by 22%, 22% and 32% respectively as compared to the control. In contrast to Al ions, SeO32- did not cause considerable changes of brain catalase activity at this time-period of mice intoxication. Furthermore, Na2SeO3 pre-treatment revealed a tendency to reduce the effect of Al on catalase activity. Conclusions: Our studies revealed that in the brain selenite ions could counteract the effect of Al on the activity of catalase after 14 days of intoxication