Toxicological effects of arsenic and its modulation by vitamin A in the brain and blood of Swiss albino mice

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine whether vitamin A (vit. A), which was shown to possess antioxidant properties when co-administered with arsenic trioxide (As₂ O₃) might prevent As-induced detrimental effects. Two doses of As (0.5 or 1 mg kg⁻¹ body weight), alone and in combination with vit. A as retinyl palmitate (0.2 mg kg⁻¹ body weight), were used in this study. Parameters assessed included acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activity and levels of total proteins, cholesterol and total lipids in cerebral hemisphere (CH) and cerebellum (C) regions of the brain as well as the serum of mice. Significant decreases in AChE activity and levels of proteins together with other parameters were noted in the brain and blood. These effects were significantly mitigated by co-treatment with vit. A. These results emphasize that concurrent supplementation of vit. A significantly protects against As-induced toxicity.

Keywords:

• arsenic
• vitamin A
• acetyl cholinesterase
• cholesterol
• lipids
• mice