Selenium as a Hepatoprotective Agent for Organophosphate Pesticide (Monocrotophos) Toxicity in Male Rabbits

Background: Monochrotophos (MCP), a widely utilized organophosphate pesticide in agriculture, is highly risky to the hepatic health of most animal species. The present study was designed to examine the hepatotoxicity of MCP on hepatic cells and the probable protective role of Selenium (Se) in male rabbits. Results: 25 normal male rabbits, weighing between 1200 and 1500 g, were randomly assigned to five groups. Group 1 served as the control, and Groups 2 to 5 received 0.1 mg/kg of MCP daily for 25 days, with Groups 3, 4, and 5 receiving 2, 4, and 8 µg/kg.b.wt of Se, respectively, in addition. The blood samples collected after treatment were analyzed for serum estimation of glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), total protein (T.P), albumin (Alb), total bilirubin (T.B), and direct bilirubin (D.B). Results in this study indicated that MCP exposure considerably increased serum GPT and GOT and T.B. and D.B. levels and decreased the levels of T.P. in comparison to the control group. Conversely, results in Groups 3-5, which were treated with Se, indicated significant improvement in these factors, with levels being almost as high as in the control group. Conclusions: The findings suggest that MCP causes severe hepatotoxic effects in male rabbits, while Se plays a protective role against such toxicity. Se supplementation significantly helped in the recovery of serum biomarkers to levels close to normal, thus suggesting its efficacy as an antioxidant in mitigating the liver damage induced by pesticides. The protective effect was found to be directly proportional to the dose given as an index of the importance of dietary antioxidants in reducing the health risks with pesticide exposure. Further research is warranted to explore mechanisms of the Se protective effects and their relevance to human health.