In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effect of diphenyl ditelluride, diphenyl diselenide and ebselen on Na+, K-ATPase activity of rat brain. The results demonstrated that all compounds significantly inhibited (in the mu M range) Na+, K+-ATPase activity. Diphenyl ditelluride, at low concentrations, provoked an increase in Na+, K+-ATPase activity. Dithiothreitol (DTT), at 3 mM, protected the inhibition caused by diphenyl ditelluride, diphenyl diselenide and ebselen in Na+, K+-ATPase activity. Post-incubation of diphenyl diselenide-treated homogenate with DTT completely recovered enzyme activity. DTT was able to recover the enzyme inhibition induced by 20 mu M of diphenyl ditelluride, but was partially able to recover inhibition induced by high concentrations of organotellurium compound. Conversely, DTT did not recover ebselen-induced Na+, K+-ATPase inhibition. The mechanism of inhibition by diphenyl diselenide, diphenyl ditelluride and ebselen in Na+, K+-ATPase activity revealed: decreased maximal velocity and Km. Cerebral Na+, K+-ATPase is a potential molecular target for the toxic effect of organochalcogens and the inhibition may occur through a change in the crucial thiol groups of this enzyme. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.