Deficiency of selenium intake enhances manifestation of renal toxicity of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum in mice

The effect of the dietary level of selenium on lethal and renal toxicity of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (cis-DDP) was investigated using mice fed diets containing 4 different concentrations of selenium (0.009, 0.1, 0.4 or 1.0 ppm) for 6 weeks starting at 4 weeks of age. The groups of mice fed the diets containing 0.009 and 0.1 ppm of selenium showed higher sensitivity to the lethal toxicity caused by a single subcutaneous administration of cis-DDP (32 μmol/kg) than the other groups. The renal toxicity of cis-DDP, indicated by increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine and urinary activity of N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), was significantly enhanced by a decrease in dietary selenium level. These results suggest that the dietary level of selenium affects the manifestation of lethal and renal toxicity of cis-DDP.