Salmataj S.A., Shobha U. Kamath, Surekha Bhat and Shreedhar Pai
Abstract
Consumption of arsenic-contaminated drinking water is the major cause of arsenic toxicity. Early clinical features are associated with the gastrointestinal system and include colicky abdominal pain and profuse watery diarrhoea. The effect of arsenic administration on antioxidant defense system and carbohydrate metabolism was studied in the enterocytes of Swiss albino male mice administered single dose of sodium arsenate (ARS) through oral gavage for a period of 30 days at doses of 1mg/Kg body weight and 3mg/Kg body weight. Doses were calculated based on LD50 values. Arsenate administration caused a significant dose dependent increase in MDA level and catalase activity and decrease in SOD and GST activities indicating increased oxidative stress. A significant increase in LDH activity, decrease in SDH and ATPase activity indicated decreased production and availability of ATP in enterocytes. Further research is needed to elucidate a mechanism linking these changes to the immediate gastrointestinal symptoms of arsenic toxicity.