BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN ARSENIC-INTOXICATED RATSCOEXPOSED TO ETHANOL

The effects of arsenic and ethanol interaction on blood, liver and ser um biochemical indices, and arsenic concentration in soft tissues of r ats were investigated to determine the influence of these substances i n inducing susceptibility to arsenic poisoning. Arsenic, intraperitone ally (100 ppm, once, daily), ethanol in drinking water (13%), or the c ombination were administered for a period of 6 weeks. Both the chemica ls had some additive effects in marginally elevating blood zinc protop orphyrin. Glutathione (GSH) concentrations of blood and liver were red uced by both arsenic and ethanol; however, there was a more pronounced depletion of hepatic GSH concentration in animals coexposed to arseni c and ethanol. Combined arsenic plus ethanol exposure led to significa ntly more elevated activities of serum transaminases than in animals a dministered arsenic or ethanol alone. Histopathological alterations in kidneys and liver occurred following arsenic exposure. Arsenic plus e thanol produced more pronounced liver lesions, whereas kidney changes were the same as with arsenic alone. The concentrations of arsenic in kidney and liver were higher in rats exposed to arsenic plus ethanol. The results suggest that animals exposed to arsenic plus ethanol are m ore vulnerable to arsenic toxicity. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.