Age dependent changes in arsenic and nicotine induced oxidative stress in male rat

Abstract

Abstract The present study was planned to compare the differential toxicity of arsenic and nicotine among three different age groups of rats. In this study blood and tissue oxidative stress was determined in different age group of rats exposed to arsenic (2 mg/kg, i.p.) and nicotine (6 mg/kg, i.p.) for 2 weeks. Arsenic inhibited blood δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in all age groups of rats while, a moderate inhibition was noted following nicotine exposure in young and old rats. Arsenic caused an increase in blood reactive oxygen species in young and old rats while glutathione level increased only in young rats unlike nicotine. A significant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance was noted in liver of young and old rats while, hepatic GSH showed an increase in young and a decrease in old rats. Catalase activity decreased significantly in arsenic exposed young and old rats. At the given dose and duration both toxicants did not induce oxidative stress in rat brain. Blood arsenic concentration increased with age whereas its level brain and liver was independent of age. Conclusively, young and old animals were found to be most sensitive to both toxicants; with arsenic being more toxic than nicotine targeting liver.