Zinc supplement on tissue arsenic concentration in rats
Kamaluddin, M.; Misbahuddin, M.
Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin 32(3): 87-91
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0377-9238 PMID: 17867273 Document Number: 602508
To examine the effect of zinc in the removal of accumulated arsenic from different tissues (liver, kidneys, spleen and lungs), rats were initially allowed to drink high concentration (400 microg/kg/day) of arsenic for two months followed by a period of cessation (one month). Administration of zinc (2 mg/kg/day) during the third month in arsenic-treated and non-treated groups were compared. In arsenic-treated rats, the mean (+/- SD) amounts of total arsenic in liver, kidneys, spleen and lungs were 12.3 +/- 0.7, 20.5 +/- 1.0, 31.4 +/- 1.0 and 25.6 +/- 1.1 microg/g of tissues respectively. Administration of zinc to arsenic-treated rats reduced the arsenic concentrations of those tissues to 7.8, 10.7, 23.0 and 14.0 microg/g of tissues. This in vivo study suggests that zinc removes the accumulated arsenic from different tissues significantly (p < 0.001).