Wholebody elimination of 75SeO2-3 and 203HgCl2 administered separately and simultaneously to mice.

A study of wholebody elimination of mercury (203HgCl2) and selenium (75SeO2-3) given separately or simultaneously in single doses by intraperitoneal injections to mice has been performed. The conclusion of this study can be summarized as follows: there seems to exist a homeostatic mechanism for selenium, but not for mercury; increased retention is observed for both elements when administered simultaneously. Maximum retention of 1 element is observed, when the other is given in excess or equimolar ratio to the other. Excess mercury provokes a pattern of selenium retention similar to that found in case of selenium deficiency. The wholebody molar ratio of mercury and selenium tends towards 1. When this happens, mercury as well as selenium are eliminated at a rate different from what is seen when the elements are administered separately. Selenium therefore seems to play a direct role in metabolism of inorganic mercury.