Studies on the differences in the effects of SeO2 and organic Se-compounds on the distribution of Hg,Co, Fe,Zn and Rb in mice by instrumental neutron activation analysis

The interaction of inorganic mercury (as HgCl₂) with SeO₂ and organic Se-compounds is compared. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied as the analytical method. Organ concentrations of Hg and Se were always significantly higher after simultaneous i. p. injections with HgCl₂ and Se-compounds. Especially high abundances of Se and Hg in mice organs were found after simultaneous injection with Se-methionine and HgCl₂. We suggest that Hg²⁺ ions are bonded by selenohydryl groups of the metabolites of injected Se-compounds. Binding yield of Hg²⁺ ions with metabolites of Se-compounds depends upon the chemical form of injected Se-compounds. Variations in the content of Zn, Co, Fe and Rb were observed in all the investigated organs after a single injection with HgCl₂ or Se-compounds. Simultaneous injection with HgCl₂ and Se-compounds affects the contents of these elements in comparison with single injections.