Acute oral gallium arsenide exposure and changes in certain hematological, hepatic, renal and immunological indices at different time intervals in male Wistar rats

Abstract

Male albino rats were given a single oral dose of gallium arsenide (GaAs) (100, 200 or 500 mg/kg). Erythrocyte δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity was inhibited in all the three GaAs-exposed groups accompanied by elevated urinary excretion of ALA. A significant increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity, and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase ( γ-GT) was observed. A significant increase in hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and a decrease in hepatic glutathione contents were also noted. Renal alkaline phosphatase activity, urinary ALA and protein excretion increased significantly on GaAs exposure. These changes were accompanied by significant alterations in almost all the immunological variables, with an increase in gallium and arsenic concentration in blood and soft tissues. While most of the above biochemical alterations were prominent at day 7 following single exposure to 200 and 500 mg/kg GaAs, most of the immunological indices altered with all the three doses and remained high even at day 21. The results suggest only a moderate effect of GaAs on renal and hepatic tissues. By contrast, immunological and haematological systems are the most vulnerable to the toxic effects of GaAs.