Systemic indicators of inorganic arsenic toxicity in four animal species

The effect of arsenic compounds depends on the chemical form and is specifi c for certain organs. The lack of specific biological indicators for the ef fects of each arsenic species maker it difficult to differentiate their tox icity. Five prospective biological indicators of systemic toxicity were exa mined at time points ranging from 15 min to 24 h using male Sprague-Dawley rats, B6C3F1 mice, Golden-Syrian hamsters, and Hartley guinea pigs, followi ng intraperitoneal dosing with 0.1 and 1 mg/kg sodium arsenite. Rats and mi ce were also dosed with 1 mg/kg sodium arsenate. Total blood arsenic levels were determined in all animal species to show that exposure occurred and a s an index of the severity of the change is an indicator of toxicity. Total blood arsenic levels were increased in all animal species. This increase w as dose, arsenic species, and animal dependent. Renal pyruvate dehydrogenas e activity was significantly decreased at early time points in mice, hamste rs, and guinea pigs, and at later time points in rats dosed with arsenite. Rats and mice dosed with arsenate also exhibited PDH decrease at early rime points. Blood hematocrit and glucose were increased in the rat and guinea pig, respectively, alter arsenite administration. Creatinine and urea nitro gen were found to be unresponsive to arsenic in most animal species. Data s uggested that the mouse and secondly the hamster appear to be the most appr opriate animal models for the study of acute arsenic toxicity.