title: Inorganic arsenic-induced intramitochondrial granules in mouse urothelium.
abstract: Based on epidemiological data, chronic exposure to high levels of inorganic arsenic in the drinking water is carcinogenic to the urinary bladder of humans. Recently, models have been developed involving transplacental administration of inorganic arsenic and subsequent administration of another substance that produces a low incidence of urogenital neoplasms. Administration of arsenite or arsenate in the diet or drinking water to five-to eight-week-old mice or rats rapidly induces urothelial cytotoxicity and regenerative hyperplasia. In mice administered arsenite, we observed eosinophilic intracytoplasmic granules present in the urothelial cells. These granules were not present in urothelial cells of untreated mice or in treated or untreated rats. By transmission electron microscopy, the granules were located within the mitochondrial matrix, that is, mitochondrial inclusions. Arsenic, primarily as arsenite, was present in partially purified mitochondria containing these granules. Cells containing the granules were not usually associated with degenerative changes. Lack of these granules in rats suggests that they are not necessary for inorganic arsenic-induced urothelial cytotoxicity or hyperplasia. These granules have also been observed with exposures to other metals in other tissues and other species, suggesting that they represent a protective mechanism against metal-induced toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology and the Eppley Institute for Cancer Research, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-3135, USA. ssuzuki@unmc.edu
authors.forename: Shugo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Lora L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muirhead
authors.forename: Xiufen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: X Chris
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bjork
authors.forename: Kendall B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Takamasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohnishi
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakiuchi-Kiyota
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Pennington
authors.forename: Samuel M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000032:analysis; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D023421:Models, Animal; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D019459:Urothelium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D002273:Carcinogens; D001151:Arsenic