[Toxicokinetics and tissue distribution study of arsenic in realgar].
OBJECTIVE
To study the toxicokinetics and tissue distribution of total arsenic after giving different doses realgar to rats.


METHODS
The concentration of arsenic in blood, urine and main organs were determined after single oral administration of 3.738, 1.869, 0.935 g x kg(-1) realgar in rats.


RESULTS
The distribution half life (t(1/2 alpha)) and elimination half life (t(1/2 beta)) of total arsenic were 7.73 h and 17.21 h respectively in high dose group. The apparent distribution volume (Vd) were 10.8, 5.6, 3.9 L x kg(-1) respectively, the total clearance (Cltot) were 0.437, 0.16, 0.111 L x h(-1) x kg(-1) respectively in the three groups. The excretion of total urine arsenic got rid of 5.5%-13.0% of realgar which given to rats in 96 hours. Arsenic could be detected distributing into rat's main organs and tissues after administration of a single dose. Suprarenal gland, bladder and ovary accumulated most of the arsenic, while liver, spleen, lung and kidney accumulated less. Heart, brain, stomach and testis accumulated the least amount.


CONCLUSIONS
It has nonlinear dynamics in the body of rats in toxic doses as the kinetics of realgar was changed according to the dosage.
Zhang
Juan
J
North China Pharmaceutical Group, New Drug Research and Development Co., Ltd., Shijiazhuang 050011, China. zhangj105@yahoo.com.cn
Tang
Yishan
Y
Liu
Qide
Q
D000818:Animals; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013440:Sulfides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D001152:Arsenicals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D013440:Sulfides; C058317:arsenic disulfide