Antioxidants in Detoxification of Arsenic-Induced Oxidative Injury in Rabbits: Preliminary Results
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2003
Department
Community Health Sciences
Abstract
To assess the oxidative injuries caused by arsenic toxicity in rabbits and evaluate the detoxifying effects of exogenous antioxidants, we administered arsenic trioxide (3-5mg/kg/day) in rabbits through a feeding tube for seven days. These rabbits were then treated with a recipe of vitamins, zinc, selenium (VZS) or a plant polyphenol or a placebo for the next seven days. Blood samples were collected from ear vein for spectrophotometric assay of reduced glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and nitrite/nitrate (NOx; index of nitric oxide formation) before arsenic administration, seven days after arsenic administration, and seven days after antioxidant treatment. The total arsenic concentrations in hair and spot urine samples of rabbits before arsenic administration were 0.6 +/- 0.21 mug/g and 34.0 +/- 5.9 mug/L, respectively. Administration of arsenic trioxide significantly increased arsenic concentrations in hair and in urine to 2.8 +/- 0.40 mug/g (p<0.001) and 7372 +/- 1392.0 mug/L (p < 0.001), respectively. Arsenic administration to rabbits significantly reduced GSH concentration (post-arsenic,17.5 +/- 0.81 mg/dL vs. pre-arsenic, 32.0 +/- 0.76mg/dL, p<0.001), increased TBARS concentration (post-arsenic, 8 +/- 1.1 muM vs. pre-arsenic, 5 +/- 0.7 muM, p < 0.05), and NOx concentration (postarsenic, 465 +/- 38.5 muM vs. pre-arsenic, 320 +/- 24.7 muM, p < 0.001) as compared to the pre-arsenic levels. There was a negative correlation between TBARS and GSH concentrations (r = -0.464, p < 0.01) and between NO, and GSH concentrations (r = -0.381, p < 0.05) of intoxicated rabbits. The recovery of the depleted GSH was significantly greater in the polyphenols (77.0 +/- 12.0%) or VZS (67.0 +/- 17.0%) treatment groups compared with the placebo group (36.0 +/- 7.0%). The decrease in NOx level of arsenic-treated rabbits was significantly greater in polyphenots treatment group than the placebo group (60.0 +/- 9.0% vs. 17.0 +/- 6.0%, p < 0.001). These results indicate that arsenic induces toxicity in rabbits associated with an increase in lipid peroxidation. Arsenic toxicity increases nitric oxide production in the body. Exogenous antioxidants such as polyphenols and recipe of vitamins, zinc, and selenium are useful for arsenic detoxification.
Publication Title
Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A
Volume
38
Issue
1
First Page
273
Last Page
287
Recommended Citation
Rabbani, G. H.,
Saha, S. K.,
Akhtar, M.,
Marni, F.,
Mitra, A. K.,
Ahmed, S.
(2003). Antioxidants in Detoxification of Arsenic-Induced Oxidative Injury in Rabbits: Preliminary Results. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 38(1), 273-287.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/4489