The pharmacokinetic properties of selol, a new organoselenium compound, were evaluated in rats. Each animal was given a single oral or subcutaneous dose of selol 12 mg/kg. The selenium concentration was determined in whole blood and tissues by non flame carbon furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry. The pharmacokinetic parameters Cmax and tmax differed statistically between oral (p.o.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) treatment. The selenium average peak concentrations in the blood were 494 +/- 8 ng/ml after oral and 322 +/- 5 ng/ml after subcutaneous administration. They were reached after 1.9 +/- 0.1 h and 2.4 +/- 0.1 h, respectively. For the AUC0 mean values of 1373 +/- 56 ng.h/ml (p.o.) and 1273 +/- 137 ng.h/ml (s.c.) were found. The mean residence time (MRT) was significantly longer after subcutaneous administration. Selenium distributes quickly to the main organs with prevalence to the adrenal gland. Moreover, its concentrations in the examined organ were evidently higher after subcutaneous treatment as compared to the oral route. Our data suggest that Selol may be used as a possible source of selenium for the treatment of selenium-deficient patients, particularly via the subcutaneous route.