Bis(methylmercuric) selenide as a reaction product from methylmercury and selenite in rabbit blood.

The compound formed by the reaction of methylmercury and selenite in rabbit blood was characterized. When methylmercuric chloride (10 nmol) and sodium selenite (10 nmol) were added to rabbit blood (1 ml), about 6.5 nmol of mercury and 3.2 nmol of selenium were extracted with benzene. Mercury and selenium thus transferred into benzene at the molar ratio of 2 : 1 were confirmed to form a single compound which was identified as bis(methylmercuric) selenide :(CH3Hg)2Se. The formation of (CH3Hg)2Se from methylmercury and selenite in blood, presumably by the participitation of glutathione (GSH), might play a role in the protective effect of selenium against methylmercury toxicity.