The induction of chromosome aberrations in human purified peripheral blood lymphocytes following in vitro exposure to selenium.

Human lymphocyte cultures were treated with increasing concentrations (8.0 X 10(-8) M to 8.0 X 10(-5) M) of sodium selenite and selenomethionine 24 h after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin and were scored for chromosomal aberrations at 48 h. The yield of abnormal metaphases was dependent on the dose and the form of selenium used. At 8.0 X 10(-5) M the proportion of aberrant cells reached 53.5% and 43.0% for selenite and selenomethionine, respectively. The selenium-induced chromosomal aberrations were primarily of the chromatid type and included breaks and fragments. Chromosomal exchanges were less frequent and included triradials and quadriradials. These results confirm that selenium is clastogenic for cultured human lymphocytes.