Abstract

Despite the success of experimental, clinical and epidemiological studies on selenium as an anti-cancer agent, basic studies on the effects of selenium are still scanty. This study was designed to investigate the biochemical effects of sodium selenite using preventive and therapeutic approaches on chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. Rats were divided randomly into 6 groups: negative control, positive control [Diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) + 2-Acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF)], preventive group, preventive control group (respective control for preventive group), therapeutic group and therapeutic control group (respective control for therapeutic group). The activities of plasma alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase ALP and concentrations of total protein, albumin and globulin were determined by an auto-analyzer. GGT and ALT activities were significantly higher in the positive control, preventive and therapeutic groups when compared with the negative control. Globulin concentration was significantly lower in the positive and therapeutic group controls and higher in the therapeutic group and its respective control when compared with the negative and positive controls, respectively. Plasma GGT enzyme marker could be used as an early marker for liver neoplasm in rats. The effect of selenium on globulin, as an indicator of immunity status, needs to be clarified.

Key words: Alanine transaminase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, liver neoplasm, selenium.