Experimental Study Of Arsenic And The Protective Action Of Vitamin E On Peroxidation Damage In Liver And Kidney Of Mice

Objective To study the influence of arsenic and the protective action of vitamin E on lipid peroxidation and fatty acid metabolism in liver and kidney of mice. Methods Kunming mice were divided into seven groups according to the weight of mice. The mice of different groups were fed with both various amounts of arsenic in drinking water and vitamin E in food for 90 days to produce the animal model of subchronic arsenic poisoning. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and thecontents of malondiasldehyde (MDA) ,vitamine E (VitE) in the organs of mice were measured by test kit. Total lipid in mice liver was extracted and fatty acid compositions of the phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were assayed using gas chromatography. The arsenic content in blood, liver and kidney of mice also was determinated. Results (1) The weight and organ coefficient of mice were lower in every dose in some degree.The arsenic in blood, liver and kidney were rised significantly along with the dose of arsenic.(2)The SOD and GSH-Px activities were lower, while the MDA contents were higher in arsenic groups. Correspondingly, the SOD and GSH-Px activities were higher, while the MDA contents were lower in the groups added with VitE. (3)The fatty acid compositions of PC and PE in arsenic groups changed abnormally, which the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA) reduced and the saturated fatty acids(SFA) increased. While, in groups added with VitE, the proportion of PUFA increased and the SFA reduced nearly to normal level. Conclusions (1) Lipid peroxidation (LP) and the anti-lipid peroxidation might play a vital role in the mechanism of arsenism. (2) The high dose of arsenic can be accumulated and it can cause the abnormal changes of the fatty acid compositions of phospholipid in the liver. (3) There was an interaction between arsenic and VitE. Vitamin E has a protective action against the arsenism through protecting the normal compositions of fatty acids of phospholipid and mataining the balance of the lipid peroxidation and anti-lipid peroxidation system.