CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Selenium is an essential element for humans and animals and it is found as a constituent of selenoproteins. Selenium in the form of selenocysteine is integrated into the catalytic centers of gluthathione peroxidase (GPx), an antioxidant enzyme that protects the cells from the damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative stress is the imbalance between the reactive ROS oxygen species and the body´s antioxidant defense systems, generating alterations of DNA, proteins and lipid peroxidation. This imbalance occurs particularly during ischemia and lack of post mortem perfusion. This mechanism is of particular importance in organs for transplants, since it affects the outcome during surgeries.The goal of this research was to evaluate the effects of selenium during post mortem oxidative stress in transplant organs. To this end rats were administered 75 µg/kg/d of seleno-methionine (SeMet) during 7, 14 and 21 days. At the end of administration mices were sacrificed and liver, heart and kidney samples were collected at different post mortem intervals (PMI). Total selenium concentration in organs were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Selenium concentration in organs increased in 20, 3 and 8 % in liver, heart and kidney after 7 days of administration, reaching a maximum of 65, 40 and 43 % after 21 days respectively. Oxidative stress was measured by determine malonil dialdehyde (MDA) by liquid chromatography. After 21 days of administration, the production of MDA decreased 50% in the heart and 20% in the kidney at a PMI of 1 hour. In liver, MDA production increased significantly. Organs removed at different PMI intervals showed lower production of MDA compared to the control. SeMet decreased oxidative stress in transplant organs at PMI of 1-12 hs. This role of selenium opens a new path to improve transplant organs survival and the outcome of transplant surgeries.