Histopathological Changes and Antioxidant Enzymes Status in Oxidative Stress Induction Using Sodium arsenite in Rats

Abstract

Introduction: Arsenic toxicity has posed troublesome health concerns in the world and many of the toxic effects of arsenic are related to its effect on oxidative stress. The aim of the present study is to evaluate histopathological and antioxidant enzymes changes in oxidative stress status induced by sodium arsenite in rats. Materials and Methods: All experiments were carried out in male Wistar rats. Animal were divided into 2 groups of eight animals in each: Rats consumed distilled water (control group). Group 2: Rats consumed a solution of sodium arsenite (100 ppm) daily (arsenic group). At the end of day 28 arsenic exposure, the enzyme level in rat liver and kidney tissues was measured using the assay kits. The remaining liver, kidney, and heart tissue were fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin and used for histological observation. Results: The results showed a significant decrease in values of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and catalase (CAT) in serum and tissue in kidney and liver rat (P < 0.05). But, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were increased significantly (P < 0.05). Arsenic caused severe degenerative changes in tubular cells and acute tubular necrosis, hepatocyte cell degeneration, severe hemorrhage, and infiltration and formation of Kupffer cells nodules, fragmentation, and degeneration of muscle fibers with pyknotic nuclei in heart tissue. Conclusions: The finding of the present study revealed that the administration of Sodium arsenite caused significant oxidative stress, decreased antioxidant enzymes activity and severe tissue damage.

Investigation of the protective effect of chitosan against arsenic-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative damage in rat kidney tissue

“…In previous studies, it was determined that MDA contents increased significantly in kidney and liver tissue homogenates of Arsenic-poisoned rats (Mehrzadi et al 2018, Nozohour and Jalilzadeh-Amin 2019, Ishaq et al 2021. Similarly, in this study, the highest MDA level was detected in rats in the arsenic group, indicating that acute exposure to arsenic causes nephrotoxicity and increases reactive oxygen species.…”