Selenium ameliorates inflammation by decreasing autophagic flux and mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling on experimentally induced rat periapical lesions.

Aim: To reveal the molecular mechanisms that targets mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling and the autophagic flux and to investigate the possible effects of the systemic administration of selenium (Se) on experimentally induced rat periapical lesions.

Methodology: Thirty adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into negative control, positive control and Se groups. In the positive control and Se groups, the pulp chambers of their mandibular first molars were exposed to the oral environment to induce periapical lesions The Se group received daily intraperitoneal injections of Se at a dose of 0.