Arsenic toxicity in mice and its possible amelioration

Oral administration of arsenic trioxide(3 and 6 mg/kg body weight/d) for 30 d caused, as compared with vehicle control, dose dependent significant reductions in body weight, absolute weight, protein, glycogen, as well as, total, dehydro and reduced ascorbic acid contents both in the liver and kidney of arsenic treated mice. Succinic dehydrogenase(SDH) and phosphorylase only in the liver activities were significantly reduced in a dose dependent manner. Acid phosphatase activity was significantly decreased in the liver of low dose arsenic treated animals; however, significant rise in its activity was observed in high dose group. As compared with vehicle control, treatment also caused significant dose dependent reductions in SDH, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase activities in the kidney of mice. Vitamin E cotreatment as well as, 30 d withdrawal of arsenic trioxide treatment with or without vitamin E caused significant amelioration in arsenic induced toxicity in mice. Administration of vitamin E during withdrawal of treatment also caused significant amelioration as compared from only withdrawal of the treatment. It is concluded that vitamin E ameliorates arsenic induced toxicities in the liver and kidney of mice.