Arsenic induced free radical toxicity in brain of mice

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the <i>in vivo </i>effects of oral administration of arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃; 0.5 and 1 mg/kg body weight/day for 45 days) on cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum in male mice, <i>Mus musculus. </i>Arsenic reduced the concentration of glutathione (GSH) in cerebral hemisphere and cerebellum at both the dose levels; while

increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) in cerebral hemisphere and cerebellum regions. Further, the activities of antioxidant enzymes viz., superoxide dismutase and catalase also declined in these two regions with dose indicating oxidative stress. This effect is caused by the action of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by arsenic exposure.