Systemic indicators of inorganic arsenic toxicity in several species

Abstract

Seven prospective biological indicators of systemic toxicity were examined at time points ranging from 15 minutes to 24 hours using male Sprague-Dawley rats, B6C3F1 mice, Golden-Syrian hamsters and Hartley guinea pigs following intraperitoneal dosing with 0.1 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg sodium arsenite. Rats and mice were also dosed with 1.0 mg/kg sodium arsenate. Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity was significantly depressed at early time points in mice, hamsters and guinea pigs and at later time points in rats dosed with arsenic (III). Rats and mice dosed with arsenic (V) also exhibited PDH depression at early time points. Uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin excretion was elevated in mice following arsenic (III) dosing. Coproporphyrin excretion was elevated in rats following arsenic (V) dosing. Blood glucose, creatinine, urea nitrogen and creatinine were unchanged by arsenic dosing. Based upon the amount and types of biological responses observed, the mouse appears to be the most sensitive animal model for the further study of arsenic toxicity.