Objective To elucidate the etiology of DNA impairment of type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells(AT-II) of the rats fed with low selenium and high cadmium fodder，and the effect of Vitamin C.Methods With single cell gel electrophoresis technique，we observed the joint action of selenium，cadmium and vitamin C on DNA damage in AT-II cells of the eight groups of rats fed separately with：normal （2 groups），high Cd，high Cd+high VC，low Se+high Cd，low Se+high Cd+high VC，high Se+high Cd and high Se+high Cd+high VC fodder for 14 weeks.Results Compared with the control，there was no DNA changes have been observed in the high Se+high Cd+high VC group.However，in the high Se+high Cd group and high Cd+high VC group，DNA damage of AT-II cells can be detected clearly；in the low Se+high Cd+high VC group and high Cd group，the degree of the DNA damage is more serious than the above two groups；in the low Se+high Cd group，the extent of the DNA damage was the most serious on all of the groups be studied.Conclusion It is suggested that Se deficiency and simultaneously Cd overabundance may damaged DNA of AT-II cells of the rats significantly，however，Vitamin C may protect AT-II against the injury effectively.
Citation： CAO Wenhua ,TIAN Hong,CHEN Ran,LI Jinguo,ZHOU Xin,WNAG Qingbao.. Effects of vitamin C on the DNA of type II alveolar epithelial cells of the rats fed with low selenium and high cadmium fodder. Chinese Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2008, 08(2): 132-134. doi: Copy