Toxicity studies of a new selenium compound, Selol, in rats

Selol is a new organoselenium compound synthesized in the Department of Drug Analysis, Warsaw. The general acute and cumulative toxicities of Selol were tested in rats. The compound did not display any toxic effects after parenteral administration up to 500 mg/kg-1 s.c. and 100 mg/kg-1 i.p. However, given orally it exhibited high toxicity. LD50 value after a single oral administration amounted to 100 mg/kg-1 and after administration in an increasing-dose schedule to 80 mg/kg-1. On the basis of these results the authors conclude that Selol may be converted to a more toxic product during digestion. Therefore, Selol as a source of selenium is safer given by the parenteral route.