Metabolism of Arsenic by Mouse Embryonic Liver Tissue

Inorganic arsenic is an environmental toxin that affects many people around the world. It is especially a problem in countries where people depend on arsenic-contaminated well water, where it has been shown to lead to various health problems, from cardiovascular disease to liver disease to cancer. While these effects have been well studied, the effects of arsenic on embryonic tissues have not. This study examined embryonic liver cell and explant tissue for the ability to metabolize inorganic arsenic. The results showed that embryonic liver cells were able to metabolize a small amount of the arsenic to dimethylarsonous acid [DMA(V)], while embryonic liver explant cultures were able to metabolize some arsenic to monomethylarsonous acid [MMA(III)] and more to DMA(V). These results show that embryonic tissues are indeed able to metabolize arsenic, and they serve the purpose of broadening the scope of understanding and research into in utero exposure to toxins like arsenic and the onset and progression of disease later in life