Antioxidants in detoxification of arsenic-induced oxidative injury in rabbits: Preliminary results

To assess the oxidative injuries caused by arsenic toxicity in rabbits and evaluate the detoxifying effects of exogenous antioxidants, we administered arsenic trioxide (3-5 mg/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 μg/g and 34.0 ± 5.9 μg/L, respectively. Administration of arsenic trioxide significantly increased arsenic concentrations in hair and in urine to 2.8 ± 0.40 μg/g (p x concentration (post-arsenic, 465 ± 38.5 μM vs. pre-arsenic, 320 ± 24.7 μM, p x and GSH concentrations (r = -0.381, p x level of arsenic-treated rabbits was significantly greater in polyphenols 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.