The effect of selenium ions on the catabolism of prostaglandin E2 in rabbit kidney cortex

The effect of selenium ions on the catabolism of prostaglandin E2 by 15-hydroxy prostaglandin dehydrogenase and prostaglandin delta 13 reductase in rabbit kidney cortex was examined. Selenium ions had no effect on the 15-hydroxy prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity. On the other hand, selenium ions inhibited the prostaglandin delta 13 reductase activity at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 mM. The effect was concentration-dependent. The inhibition by selenium ions was non-competitive with regard to NADH and 15-keto PGE2, respectively. These results suggest that selenium ions have the potential to increase 15-keto PG levels in the kidney by inhibiting the prostaglandin delta 13 reductase activity and that such action of selenium ions may participate in renal damage of selenium poisoning.