Induction of Oxidative Stress: A Possible Mechanism for the Arsenic Induced Catastrophes in Male Wistar Rats

Arsenic is an environmental pollutant and its contamination in the drinking water is considered as a serious worldwide environmental health threat. The present study investigated the effects of arsenic exposure on antioxidant parameters and p53 expression in male albino rats. The animals (n=45) were exposed to arsenic (100 ppm, 150 ppm and 200 ppm) for 4, 8 and 12 weeks as sodium arsenate in drinking water. Control animals (n=15) received distilled water for the same period. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation and total protein were evaluated spectrophotometrically. Expression of p53 was also detected by histochemical staining. Before the commencement of arsenic exposure, five animals were sacrificed to obtain baseline data. ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test was used to analyse the results with p<0.05 considered significant. Significant decrement in hepatic activities of SOD, catalase and GPx as well as hepatic concentration of GSH and total protein concentration characterized exposure to all the dose regimens of inorganic arsenic at all the time interval. Corroboratively, significant elevation was observed in malondialdehyde (MDA). The expression of p53 decreased in the groups that were exposed to arsenic as compared to the control animals. The findings from the present study suggests excessive generation of free radicals and reduction in p53 expression in arsenic – induced hepatotoxicity. Keywords: Arsenic, Toxicity, Antioxidants, Lipid peroxidation DOI: 10.7176/ALST/75-04 Publication date:June 30th 201