Protective influence of selenium on nitrite-induced methemoglobinemia in rabbits

가토(家兎)에서 nitrite에 의한 methemoglobinemia에 미치는 selenium의 영향(影響)

The protective of influences of sodium selenitc ($Na_2SeO_3$) against the methemoglobinemia with sodium nitrite were investigated on hemoglobin, methemoglobin, glutathione peroxidase and NADH-methemoglobin reductase activity in rabbits which were given 0,1,3 and 9ppm sodium selenite of drinking water for a week. Dietary selenium did not alter total hemoglobin in the blood of rabbits. Selenium was found to decrease nitrite-induced methemoglobin in a dose-dependent manner. The glutathione peroxidase activity was also increased by selenium in all the experimental groups. However, the NADH-methemoglobin reductase activity by selenite did not show significant differences as concerns the methemoglobinemia. These results showed that selenium could inhibit nitrite-induced methemoglobinemia. Its influence of inhibition is suggested that the effect of the reduction of methemoglobin was greatly stimulated by glutathione peroxidase activity.