EFFECT OF ARSENIC-(V) ON THE ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE SYSTEM - IN-VITRO OXIDATION OF RAT PLASMA-LIPOPROTEIN

Adult male rats were treated orally with sodium arsenate (10 mg As/kg/ day) for 2 days, and an increase in hepatic glutathione level was seen . Ascorbic acid content increased in both liver and plasma of intoxica ted animals. Hepatic activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathion e peroxidase did not change with the treatment and there was no increa se in the level of lipid peroxidation measured as thiobarbituric acid- reacting substances (TBARS). Arsenic decreased the plasma level of uri c acid and increased the plasma triglycerides content without modifyin g vitamin E levels. Both total lipoproteins and very low density lipop rotein plus low density lipoprotein (VLDL+LDL) fractions demonstrated greater propensity for in vitro oxidation than the corresponding untre ated rats. The last finding might be a useful parameter for determinin g the degree of oxidative stress in the initial steps of intoxication with arsenic.