COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF MAGNESIUM AND SELENIUM ELEMENTS ON GAMMA-GLUTAMYL TRANSFERASE, ASPARTIC AMINOTRANSFERASE, AND ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY IN RATS POISONED WITH LEAD IN THE SHORT AND LONG TERMS

Lead is one of the heavy element and toxic metal with wide uses. It may enter the human body through breathing and skin. On the other hand, magnesium and selenium can play a protective role against lead toxicity with their antioxidant effects. In this study, we investigated the protective role of magnesium and selenium elements on the activities of gamma-glutamyl transferase, aspartic aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase in rats poisoned with lead in the short and long term.

In this experimental study, 60 male rats were divided into 12 groups of 5 each. First, lead was injected into the rats with concentrations of 280mg/kg and 80mg/kg in periods of 15 and 45 days. In the experimental groups, selenium + lead and magnesium + lead salts were injected. The level of enzyme activity was analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Duncan Test by SPSS version 22 software and evaluated with significant levels of P<0.05, P<0.01, and P<0.001.

In both time periods, the simultaneous injection of lead and selenium showed a significant increase in ALT enzyme activity compared to the control group (P values = 0.01 and 0.05, respectively), but no significant changes were observed in AST and GGT enzymes. (P>0.05). In the groups receiving lead and magnesium simultaneous, no significant changes in ALT and AST enzymes activity were observed compared to the control (p>0.05). In the long term, in the groups receiving lead and magnesium, a decrease in AST activity alone was observed (p<0.001). In the same period, in the groups receiving selenium, a decrease in GGT activity alone was observed (P<0.05).

According to the obtained results, it is expected that magnesium has the ability to protect the liver against lead poisoning, however, in the case of recipients of selenium along with lead, the effects of poisoning exacerbation were observed.