Galvanostatic Stripping Chronopotentiometric Study for Determination of Selenium: Pharmacokinetic Application in Experimental Mice

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine selenium content in various tissues of the mouse employing galvanostatic stripping chronopotentiometry (SCP) technique and to investigate its distribution profile as well as its pharmacokinetics in mouse model. Methods: The animals received 0.25 µg/g Se orally for 1 week. Samples of whole blood and various tissues comprising kidney, liver, brain were harvested from mice and then analysed for Se content employing SCP technique. Results: Selenium tissue concentrations in mouse showed that the maximum Se levels in most tissues were attained at 3-4 days following its administration. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetic profile of Se in mouse exhibits that it is slowly absorbed from the gastrointesinal tract (GIT) reaching a plateau in 4 days and then it is slowly eliminated from the body with a half-life of about 4.5 days. Conclusions: Selenium distributes in whole blood as well as various tissues of the mouse with high concentrations in kidney and liver and low levels in blood and brain tissues. The absorption of Se from the GIT was very slow and the data suggest that the elimination of Se seems to be from the kidney at very slow rates as well. The data of the present study however, suggest that Se remains in the mouse body for a long period of time.