Chronic exposure to arsenic in tap water reduces acetylcholine-induced relaxation in the aorta and increases oxidative stress in female rats.
The aim of this work is to determine whether consuming tap water containing arsenic (20 microg/L) alters oxidative stress levels in female rats and changes vascular response. Whereas nitric oxide produces complete relaxation, arsenic (7 months of exposure) impairs the acetylcholine-induced endothelial relaxation in the rat aorta compared with control rats. Arsenic exposure results in a marked elevation in reactive oxygen species in blood, and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity, which is a sensitive biomarker for arsenic toxicity and oxidative stress, is significantly decreased in erythrocytes from 7-month-old rats. Diastolic blood pressure increases significantly in 7-month-old arsenic-treated versus control rats. The percentage of change in peripheral resistance increases. The results indicate that chronic environmental exposure to low levels of arsenic alters the release of vasoactive substances, causes changes in oxidative stress, and increases blood pressure in female rats.
Cifuentes
Fredi
F
Departamento de Químicas y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica del Norte, Angamos 0610. Antofagasta, Chile.
Bravo
Jaime
J
Norambuena
Milton
M
Stegen
Susana
S
Ayavire
Alejandra
A
Palacios
Javier
J
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D011042:Poisons / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D011042:Poisons; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase; D005978:Glutathione; D001151:Arsenic; D000109:Acetylcholine