Arsenic Accumulation of Realgar Altered by Disruption of Gut Microbiota in Mice

Abstract

Objective. To investigate the influence of gut microbiota on arsenic accumulation of realgar in mice. Methods. Mice were treated with antibiotics to form a mouse model of gut microbial disruption. Antibiotic-treated and normally raised mice were given 15 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, and 750 mg/kg realgar by gavage and 0.2 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg arsenic solution by subcutaneous injection for 7 days. The concentration of arsenic in mice whole blood was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Arsenic accumulation in antibiotic-treated mice and normally raised mice was compared. Results. After exposure to low dose (15 mg/kg) and middle dose (150 mg/kg) of realgar, significantly, more arsenic was accumulated in the whole blood of antibiotic-treated mice compared to normally raised counterparts, which indicated that the disruption of gut microbiota could lead to higher arsenic load of realgar in mice. The homeostasis of gut microbiota was supposed to be disrupted by high dose (750 mg/kg) of realgar because after exposure to high dose of realgar, there was no significant difference in arsenic accumulation between antibiotic-treated and normally raised mice. Furthermore, arsenic solution was administered by subcutaneous injection to mice to investigate the influence of gut microbial differences on arsenic accumulation in addition to the absorption process, and there was no significant difference in arsenic accumulation between mice with these two different statuses of gut microbiota. Conclusions. Gut microbiota disruption could increase arsenic accumulation of realgar in mice.

Compatibility of Niuhuang Jiedu Tablets Results in Attenuated Arsenic Bioaccumulation and Consequent Protection against Realgar-Induced Toxicity in Mice

“…The method was validated in detail based on our previous experiment [ 30 ]. The calibration curve and linearity parameters over the range of 0.1–20 ng/mL for As was automatically generated with MassHunter 4.5 Workstation Software.…”

“…0.5 mL of whole blood sample and 2 mL of trace metal-grade nitric acid were added to a microwave digestion tube. The digestion and preparation of the samples were carried out following our previously established method [ 30 ].…”

Realgar toxicity in terms of its chemical characterization, pharmacological mechanisms, and metabolic profile: A review

“…In a mouse model with disrupted gut microbiota, oral administration of the same dose of realgar resulted in higher levels of arsenic in the whole blood of the model mice compared with the mice without disrupted gut microbiota. [85] Transplanting human feces after disrupting the gut microbiota in primary arsenic detoxification enzyme AS3MT-deficient mice prevented death caused by arsenic poisoning in mice. [86] These studies collectively indicate that the gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the metabolism of realgar.…”