Effects of exogenous GSH and methionine on methylation of inorganic arsenic in mice exposed to arsenite through drinking water.

Abstract:

:We hypothesized that chronic exposure to arsenic would deplete the reduced glutathione (GSH) and methionine in vivo, thereby impair the methylation capacity of inorganic arsenic (iAs) ingested. Our experiment was designed to explore the effects of exogenous GSH and methionine on arsenic methylation in mice exposed to arsenite via drinking water. Levels of iAs, monomethylarsenic acid (MMAs), and dimethylarsenic acid (DMAs) in the liver and blood were determined by the method of hydride generation coupled with atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Compared with mice exposed to arsenite alone, administration of GSH or methionine increased the secondary methylation index in the liver and primary methylation index in the blood, which resulted in the consequent increase of DMAs percent and decrease of iAs percent in the blood. Moreover, administration of GSH resulted in the increase of DMAs percent in the liver and total arsenic in the blood. Increase of total arsenic in the blood was mainly due to the increase of DMAs. Findings from the present study suggested that administration of GSH or methionine might potentiate the methylation capacity of arsenic in both liver and extrahepatic tissues, which may facilitate the excretion of arsenic and decrease arsenic related toxicities in the body.

journal_name

Environ Toxicol

journal_title

Environmental toxicology

authors

Jin Y,Zhao F,Zhong Y,Yu X,Sun D,Liao Y,Lv X,Li G,Sun G

doi

10.1002/tox.20509

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2010-08-01 00:00:00

pages

361-6

issue

4

eissn

1520-4081

issn

1522-7278

journal_volume

25

pub_type

杂志文章