Chromosomal effects of sodium selenite in vivo

摘要

Nine neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) patients received sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) injections or tablets (0.004–0.050 mg Se/kg body weight, daily) for 1–13.5 months. In addition, five healthy persons were given Na2SeO3-tablets (0.025 mg Se/kg body weight, daily) for 2 weeks. Whole blood lymphocyte cultures (72 h) from the 9 NCL-patients and 5 healthy persons after the medication showed no more cells with chromosomal aberrations (50 cells scored/person) than those from 5 patients and 2 normal individuals before it. Nor was there any rise in the mean number of sister chromatid exchanges/cell in cultured lymphocytes of 5 selenite supplemented (0.004–0.015 mg Se/kg body weight, daily for 13.5 months) NCL-patients (7.0±0.2,250 cells) as compared to results obtained from 10 control persons (7.9±0.1, 939 cells) in the same laboratory during the same period. Thus, the sodium selenite therapy used had no detectable effect on human blood lymphocyte chromosomes in vivo.