title: Effect of sulfite exposure on zinc, iron, and copper levels in rat liver and kidney tissues.
abstract: Sulfite is a potentially toxic molecule that might enter the body via ingestion, inhalation, or injection. For cellular detoxification, mammalians rely on sulfite oxidase to convert sulfite to sulfate. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of sulfite on zinc, iron, and copper levels in rat liver and kidney tissues. Forty normal and sulfite oxidase-deficient male albino rats were divided into four groups that included untreated controls (group C), a sulfite-supplemented group that received 70 mg sodium metabisulfite per kilogram per day (group S), a sulfite oxidase-deficient group (group D), and a sulfite oxidase-deficient group that was also given 70 mg sodium metabisulfite per kilogram per day (group DS). The iron and zinc levels in the liver and kidney in groups S and DS were not affected by sulfite treatment compared to their respective controls (groups C and D). Sulfite exposure led to an increase of kidney copper content in the S group when compared to untreated controls. The kidney copper levels were significantly increased in the unexposed deficient rats, but it was not different than that of the deficient rats that were given oral sulfite treatment. These results suggest that kidney copper levels might be affected by exogenous or endogenous sulfite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Kinikli 20020, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Vural
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kucukatay
authors.forename: Sebahat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turgut
authors.forename: Erdogan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kocamaz
authors.forename: Gulten
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Emmungil
authors.forename: Melek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bor-Kucukatay
authors.forename: Gunfer
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turgut
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akca
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bagci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D050876:Sulfite Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D013447:Sulfites / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013447:Sulfites; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D050876:Sulfite Oxidase; D015032:Zinc