ALTERATIONS IN SOME HEPATIC BIOCHEMICAL VARIABLES FOLLOWING REPEATED GALLIUM-ARSENIDE ADMINISTRATION IN RATS

Gallium arsenide (GaAs), an intermetallic compound with superior semi- conductor properties, is finding extensive application in the electron ic industry. Exposure to airborne particles in the GaAs industry may p ose potential health hazards to workers. However, very little informat ion is available so far regarding the possible toxic effects of this c ompound. The present study was planned to investigate the dose-depende nt influence of repeated gallium arsenide (GaAs) administration (50, 1 00 or 200 mg/kg, orally through gastric intubation, 5 days a week for 3 weeks) on some biochemical indices in blood and hepatic tissues. The results indicate a significant dose-dependent inhibition of blood del ta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity, glutathione and an elevation in zinc protoporphyrin level. Blood haemoglobin level decre ased only at the two higher dose levels. The effects of GaAs administr ation on hepatic biochemical variables indicates only moderate adverse effects on serum glutamic oxaloacetic (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic tran saminase (GPT) following exposure at the highest dose (200 mg/kg). GaA s exposure also lead to a significant inhibition of hepatic ALAD activ ity, an elevation in MDA formation and alkaline phosphatase activity. Most of the above alterations occurred at the 200 mg:kg dose. Dose-dep endent increases in blood and hepatic arsenic concentration were also noticed. The results confirm our earlier observation that GaAs had a m arked influence on the haematopoietic system while it has only moderat e effect on the hepatic organ.