EFFECTS OF SELENIUM ON ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND RECOVERY FROM SCIATIC NERVE ISCHEMIA–REPERFUSION IN ADULT RATS

Background: Selenium is an antioxidant trace element that is capable protects various tissues against damage induced by ischemiareperfusion injury. Objectives: This study examines the selenium effect on antioxidant activity and recovery from sciatic nerve ischemia-reperfusion in adult rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 80 adult male Wistar rats weighing 250 - 300 g were used. They were divided into ten groups (n = 8 per group). The first group received sham surgery only. The second group received 0.2 mg/kg selenium without ischemiareperfusion surgery and eight remaining groups were divided to four control groups and four experimental groups which the latter groups received 0.2 mg/kg selenium. All ischemia groups were rendered in ischemic for 3 hours and reperfused for various times of 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. Half of the groups had experimental selenium (0.2 mg/kg) intraperitoneal injection treatment immediately after ischemia. According to a schedule for each group of rats bled and then centrifuged, and serum was prepared for assessment of activity levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), nitric oxide (NO), paraoxonase (POX), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Results: Comparison of the serum GPX, CAT, NO, POX, and MDA levels in the groups that received selenium with corresponding control group showed that selenium can increase plasma activity levels of GPX, POX and decrease activity levels of NO. Conclusions: Selenium with decreased activity levels of NO and increased activity GPX and POX can decrease ischemia-reperfusion injury in lower limb especially sciatic nerve.