[Detoxifying effect of lisheng-se on cisplatin and its relation to metallothionein induction]

The effects of Lisheng-Se (Seleninized wheat germ) on metallothionein (MT) induction, lethal systemic toxicity, nephrotoxicity, hemotoxicity and anticancer activity of cisplatin (CDDP), were investigated in mice. The systemic toxicity of CDDP was significantly reduced by preadministration of Lisheng-Se (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The protective effects were better than its inorganic form (Na2SeO3) and Bi (BSN), (0.05 < P < 0.1). The MT level in the liver, kidney, heart and tumor tissues of mice treated with one of those compounds was determined. The results show that the levels of MT induced by Lisheng-Se were significantly increased in liver and kidney (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). It was just in conformity with the conclusion that the best protective effect appeared in the groups treated with Lisheng-Se. These results suggest that increased MT synthesis in the liver and kidney may be involved in the protective effects of Lisheng-Se tested on the lethal toxicity, nephrotoxicity and hemotoxicity produced by CDDP. The experiments also show that Lisheng-Se did not affect the anticancer activity of CDDP in vitro and in vivo, while the MT level was not increased in cancer (P < 0.05), so Lisheng-Se might not only improve the therapeutic index of CDDP, but also did not cause drug-resistance of cancer cells.