AIM: To study liver cell apoptosis caused by the toxicity of selenium and observe the alteration of choline compounds using in vitro 9.4T high resolution magnetic resonance spectroscopy.METHODS: Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups.The rats in the treatment group were intraperitoneally injected with sodium selenite and the control group with distilled water.All rats were sacrificed and the livers were dissected.1H-MRS data were collected using in vitro 9.4T high resolution magnetic resonance spectrometer.Spectra were processed using XWINNMR and MestRe-c 4.3.HE and TUNEL staining was employed to detect and confirm the change of liver cells.RESULTS: Good 1H-MR spectra of perchloric acid extract from liver tissue of rats were obtained.The conventional metabolites were detected and assigned.Concentrations of different ingredient choline compounds in treatment group vs control group were as follows: total choline compounds,5.08±0.97 mmol/L vs 3.81±1.16 mmol/L (P = 0.05); and free choline,1.07±0.23 mmol/L vs 0.65±0.20 mmol/L (P = 0.00).However,there was no statistical significance between the two groups.The hepatic sinus and cellular structure of hepatic cells in treatment group were abnormal.Apoptosis of hepatic cells was confirmed by TUNEL assay.CONCLUSION: High dose selenium compounds can cause the rat liver lesion and induce cell apoptosis in vivo.High resolution 1H-MRS in vitro can detect diversified metabolism.The changing trend for different ingredient of choline compounds is not completely the same at early period of apoptosis.