Amelioration by Vitamin A upon Arsenic Induced Metabolic and Neurotoxic Effects

Arsenic effect was studied at two dosage levels (0.5 mg and 1 mg/kg) for 45 days in two regions of brain, viz., cerebral hemisphere (CH) and cerebellum (C) in adult mice. This study included the antioxidant profile namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, ascorbic acid and total sulphydryl groups. Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), phosphorylase together with glycogen and protein levels were also estimated as metabolic indices in the brain regions of mice. A notable decrease was detected in the activities of the enzymes and in the levels of other metabolites together with a significant increase in the lipid peroxidation, glycogen and inorganic arsenic levels after arsenic administration. Supplementation of vitamin A to the arsenic treated mice brought about no significant variation in these antioxidant and metabolic indices in comparison to that of control, revealing amelioration by vitamin A on arsenic exerted metabolic and neurotoxic effects in mice.