Metabolism of arsenite and arsenate by the rat
The metabolism of arsenite and arsenate by mice and rats was investigated. In initial studies, mice eliminated almost 100 percent of a single intraperitoneal dose (0.5 mg/kg) of sodium arsenite or arsenate. About 90 percent of the arsenic eliminated in urine by 24 hours was dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Rats, however, eliminated only about 50 percent of the same dose of sodium arsenate and only 10 percent of the arsenic in the urine was DMA. Further studies were focused on the metabolism of arsenic by the rat. After i.v. administration of 4.8 nmole arsenite or arsenate to male Sprague-Dawley rats, blood levels of arsenic rose over four hours to about 60 percent of the initial dose of arsenite and 30 percent of the initial dose of arsenate. The predominant form of arsenic in the blood was DMA. Arsenite was rapidly distributed to both liver and kidney; arsenate was rapidly distributed to kidney only. The metabolite, DMA, appeared in the urine by one hour after administration of either form. These studies suggest that inorganic arsenic is rapidly taken up by liver and kidney, depending on the valence of the arsenic. The liver is more important in the metabolism of arsenite, but the kidney takes up and methylates both arsenite and arsenate. The DMA produced by these organs binds to the red blood cells. This binding appears to be the main difference between the rat and other mammalian species. 76 references, 33 figures, 7 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Rochester Univ., NY (USA). School of Medicine and Dentistry
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76EV03490
- OSTI ID:
- 6596972
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/EV/03490-2431; ON: DE84016271
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
ARSENIC
BODY
CLEARANCE
DATA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
EXCRETION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GLANDS
INFORMATION
KIDNEYS
LIVER
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
METABOLITES
MICE
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANS
RATS
RODENTS
SEMIMETALS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TOXICITY
VALENCE
VERTEBRATES