No abstract

Arsenic, a widely studied medicinal and toxicological element, is known to induce oxidative stress and damage to cells. The present study was aimed at to assess the effect of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and/or DDB (dimethyl diphenyl bicarboxylate) with or without the chelator DMSA (Meso 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid) on arsenicinduced hepatotoxicity. Fifty four adult male albino rats were divided into nine groups. Group I was the control and received only intraperitoneal injection normal saline 2 times per week for two weeks. Group II was injected with sodium arsenite in normal saline 2 times /week for 2 weeks. Group III was injected with sodium arsenite and received oral DMSA daily for 2 weeks. Group IV was injected with sodium arsenite and received oral vitamin E (alpha -tocopherol) daily for 2 weeks. Group V was injected with sodium arsenite and received oral DDB daily for 2 weeks. Group VI received sodium arsenite, vitamin E and DDB for 2 weeks. Group VII received sodium arsenite, DMSA and vitamin E for 2 weeks. Group VIII received sodium arsenite, DMSA and DDB for 2 weeks. Group IX received sodium arsenite, DMSA, vitamin E and DDB for 2 weeks. Physiological and biochemical parameters were undertaken to measure Alanine Amino-Transferase (ALT), Aspartate Amino-Transferase (AST), Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced Glutathione (GSH) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx). Histochemical and histpathological parameters were also undertaken to assess the structural-functional mirror changes. The results of this study showed that vitamin E and DDB were almost similar in their antioxidant hepatoprotective effects with stronger inhibiting action of DDB to lipid peroxidation while the greatest effect was achieved by their combination with a chelating agent like DMSA with restoration of almost the normal hepatic histology.