Impact of co administration of selenium and quinolinic acid in the rat's brain

The effect of two different doses (1 microg and 50 microg Se/100 g body wt) of selenium on quinolinic acid toxicity was investigated in rat's brain. Male albino rats were maintained for 60 days as follows: (1) control group (normal diet), (2) Quinolinic acid group (55 microg/100 g body wt)/day, (3) high dose selenium (50 microg/100 g body wt)/day, (4) high dose selenium ((50 microg/100 g body wt) + Quinolinic acid (55 microg/100 g body wt)/day (5) low dose selenium (1 microg/100 g body wt)/day and (6) low dose selenium (1 microg/100 g body wt) + Quinolinic acid (55 microg/100 g body wt)/day. Results revealed that quinolinic acid intake lead to an increase in the oxidative stress as evidenced by decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase and GR), increased amount of lipid peroxidation products (MDA,HP and CD) and free fatty acids compared to control group. Co administration of selenium at a dose of 1 microg/100 g body wt along with quinolinic acid had reduced the oxidative stress induced by quinolinic acid and it also led to a change in the brain architecture as evidenced by the decreased activity of acetyl cholinesterase and decreased concentration of neurotransmitters. Histopathological studies revealed that selenium at a dose of 1 microg was more effective in reducing the oxidative stress and higher dose of selenium was toxic.