Arsenic intoxication, a hemorheologic view.
Arsenic (As) is a toxic semi-metal of wide distribution in nature. People living in regions where drinking water contains large quantities of arsenic, have an unusually high likelihood of developing blood-vessel diseases, but little is known about the mechanisms involved, i.e. the blood rheologic alterations that would contribute to the circulatory obstruction. Erythrocytes are the main target cells for arsenic compounds systemically absorbed and their cell membrane is the first place against the toxic. In this paper we have examined the in vitro effect of arsenic (As(V)) on the rheologic properties of human erythrocytes in relation with membrane fluidity and internal microviscosity. According to our present results, As(V) treatment produces oxidative degradation of membrane lipids and alteration of internal microviscosity. These red blood cells (RBCs) membrane and cytoplasmic structural damage consequently alters RBCs rheologic properties: an alteration of the RBCs discoid shape to stomatocytes, a diminution of erythrocyte deformability and an enhancement of osmotic fragility and cell aggregability. These effects impaired blood fluid behaviour that contribute to obstruct peripheral circulation and provides anemia, both clinic evidences typical of arsenic cronic intoxication.
Cátedra de Física Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
A
A
Bollini
M
M
Huarte
G
G
Hernández
G
G
Bazzoni
L
L
Piehl
G
G
Mengarelli
E Rubín
ER
de Celis
M
M
Rasia
D000328:Adult; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000097:blood*; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000187:drug effects; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018056:Hemorheology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D009996:Osmotic Fragility / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced
D008563:Membrane Lipids