title: Prospective protective role of melatonin against arsenic-induced metabolic toxicity in Wistar rats.
abstract: Subchronic exposure to arsenic is associated with alteration of glucose homeostasis. Arsenic treatment (as sodium arsenite) of male Wistar rats (weighing 130-150 g) at a dose of 5.55 mg kg(-1) body weight (equivalent to 35% of LD(50)) (i.p.) per day for a period of 30 days produced hypoglycemia, with associated increased urinary excretion of glucose and depletion of liver glycogen and pyruvic acid contents. Mobilization of free amino acids from kidney to liver was facilitated by arsenic treatment. Arsenic exposure significantly decreased the glutamate-pyruvate transaminase activity in kidney. Glucose 6-phosphatase activity in liver tissue was also significantly decreased after arsenic treatment. In addition to these, liver lactate dehydrogenase activity was elevated due to arsenic treatment. Melatonin supplementation (i.p.) at a dose of 10 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for last five days prior to sacrifice reversed most of the above changes caused by arsenic. Melatonin, being a potent free radical scavenger may reduce arsenic-induced free radical production, and thereby, eliminating its toxic effects. So, arsenic-induced hypoglycemia, with associated glycogenolytic as well as glycolytic activities of liver can be partially counteracted by melatonin supplementation. Accordingly, it may be suggested that melatonin can serve as a prospective protective agent against arsenic-induced metabolic toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry and Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, 92 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, West Bengal, Kolkata 700009, India.
authors.forename: Sudipta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Ajay K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018053:Arsenites / Q000633:toxicity*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017670:Sodium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018053:Arsenites; D001786:Blood Glucose; D017670:Sodium Compounds; C017947:sodium arsenite; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D006003:Glycogen; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase; D008550:Melatonin