Background: Selenium belongs to important microelements. Numerous studies have revealed relationships between its deficiency and occurrence of diverse illnesses, but the question of the proper form and dose of Se-supplementation still remains unsolved.
Objective: In the present study the influence of different selenium compounds on blood morphology and biochemistry as well as on phagocytic capacity of granulocytes and NBT test in rats was investigated.
Material and methods: Adolescent male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (ten animals each): I--control, received saline; II--received sodium selenite Na2SeO3; III--received selenoorganic compound A of chain structure 4-(o-tolyl-)-selenosemicarbazide of 2-chlorobenzoic acid; IV--received selenoorganic compound B of cyclic structure 3-(2-chlorobenzoylamino-)-2-(o-tolylimino-)-4-methyl-4-selenazoline. The administration was performed by stomach tube at a dose of 5 x 10(-4) mg Se g(-1) b.w. once a day for 10 days.
Results: Selenium compounds treatment decreased haematocrit. Erythrocytes number was unchanged in all groups receiving Se vs. control, whereas leucocytes number was depressed in groups II and IV. Haemoglobin was significantly decreased in group III. White blood count was altered in groups II and III, where all parameters were markedly decreased except for lymphocytes in group III and remained unchanged in group IV. The outcomes regarding selenium effect on biochemistry parameters of blood showed that urea remained unchanged, glucose was statistically decreased in groups II and III, whereas cholesterol was significantly diminished in group II and increased in group III vs. control. Results concerning phagocytosis and NBT test displayed that % of positive cells were decreased in groups II and III, whereas remained unaltered in group IV vs. control.
Conclusions: As cyclic selenoorganic compound B did not cause many significant changes of the studied parameters it may be suggested that after further researches it could be taken into account as a possible selenium supplement.