Effect of selenium pre-treatment on plasma antioxidant vitamins A (retinol) and E (α-tocopherol) in static magnetic field-exposed rats.

In the present study, we evaluate the effect of the co-exposure to static magnetic field (SMF) and selenium (Se) on the antioxidant vitamins A and E levels and some other parameters of oxidative stress in rat. Sub-acute exposure of male adult rats to a uniform SMF (128 mT, 1 h/day during 5 consecutive days) increased plasma activity of glutathione peroxidase (+35%) but decreased α-tocopherol (-67%) and retinol levels (-41%). SMF exposure failed to alter the plasmatic thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARs), total thiol groups and selenium concentrations. Sub-chronic administration of Se (Na(2)SeO(3), 0.2 mg/L, for 30 consecutive days, per os) ameliorated the antioxidant capacities in SMF-treated rats. Our investigation demonstrated that sub-acute exposure to SMF induced oxidative stress, which may be prevented by a pretreatment with selenium.