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Effects of exogenous GSH and methionine on methylation of inorganic arsenic in mice exposed to arsenite through drinking water
Author(s) -
Jin Yaping,
Zhao Fenghong,
Zhong Yuan,
Yu Xiaoyun,
Sun Di,
Liao Yingjun,
Lv Xiuqiang,
Li Gexin,
Sun Guifan
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
environmental toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1522-7278
pISSN - 1520-4081
DOI - 10.1002/tox.20509
Subject(s) - arsenic , arsenite , glutathione , methionine , methylation , chemistry , sodium arsenite , oral administration , inorganic arsenic , excretion , arsenic contamination of groundwater , arsenic poisoning , in vivo , arsenic toxicity , biochemistry , pharmacology , biology , amino acid , enzyme , microbiology and biotechnology , organic chemistry , gene
Abstract We hypothesized that chronic exposure to arsenic would deplete the reduced glutathione (GSH) and methionine in vivo , thereby impair the methylation capacity of inorganic arsenic (iAs) ingested. Our experiment was designed to explore the effects of exogenous GSH and methionine on arsenic methylation in mice exposed to arsenite via drinking water. Levels of iAs, monomethylarsenic acid (MMAs), and dimethylarsenic acid (DMAs) in the liver and blood were determined by the method of hydride generation coupled with atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Compared with mice exposed to arsenite alone, administration of GSH or methionine increased the secondary methylation index in the liver and primary methylation index in the blood, which resulted in the consequent increase of DMAs percent and decrease of iAs percent in the blood. Moreover, administration of GSH resulted in the increase of DMAs percent in the liver and total arsenic in the blood. Increase of total arsenic in the blood was mainly due to the increase of DMAs. Findings from the present study suggested that administration of GSH or methionine might potentiate the methylation capacity of arsenic in both liver and extrahepatic tissues, which may facilitate the excretion of arsenic and decrease arsenic related toxicities in the body. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 25: 361–366, 2010.