Distribution and behavior of isoselenouronium salts in the body. V. Acute toxicity and metabolic fate of selenium derivatives.

The acute toxicity of AESe, 2-ASe, and Se-MEG was estimated in mice after i.v., i.p. and s.c. application. In all forms of application, 2-ASe was found to have the lowest toxicity. The study of excretion showed that administered compounds are excreted practically completely within seven days, mostly by urine. The excretion by faeces is very low and by exhalation is under the threshold of demonstrability. The metabolism of 2-ASe is slow, most of it is excreted without any change; AESe is transformed into a mixture of 2-ASe and Se-MEG. Se-MEG is excreted by urine totally metabolized as trimethylselenium ion.