comparing the effects of selenium nanoparticles and selenium nanocomposites on food intake and anxiety-like behaviors

Background & objective: selenium nanoparticles (se -nps) and selenium nanocomposites (se -ncs) have differentbiological effects. therefore, the present study aimed to compare the effects of selenium nanoparticles and seleniumnanocomposites (se –ncs) on anxiety, food intake, and brain histology of rats.materials & methods: thirty-two male adult wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups. thecontrol group received saline, the selenium powder group received 1 mg/kg /day selenium powder orally for 21 days, andthe selenium nanoparticle group received three weeks of oral gavage of se –nps. the selenium nanocomposites groupreceived three weeks of oral gavage of nanocomposites. finally, cumulative food consumption and anxiety-like behaviorswere assessed, and, after that, rats were bled and sacrificed for further biochemical and histopathological investigations.results: oral administration of se powder at a dose of 1 mg/kg /day for 21 days had no significant effect on the brainsuperoxide dismutase (sod), catalase (cat) activities. there was also no significant change in the levels of brainglutathione concentration (gsh), brain mda, and behavioral parameters. selenium nanoparticles also showed nosignificant alterations in brain biochemical parameters, behavioral effects, and brain histology. the oral administration ofselenium nanocomposites significantly increased brain superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione contentand had positive effects on behavioral parameters.conclusion: the present study showed that se -ncs have behavioral effects and could induce significant biochemicalchanges in brain oxidative status.