Effect of Ground Water Arsenic on the Liver of Albino Rat

Abstract

Arsenic is a known poison of environmental and industrial origin. Prolonged exposure is associated with vascular diseases, skin lesions and cancer. The predominant form of arsenic in the nature is the pentavalent arsenate (AsV), which enters the body mainly via contaminated drinking water. The arsenic contaminated water samples were collected from different areas of Agra district and the arsenic concentration was estimated. Four groups of five albino rats each were administered 0.02 mg/litre arsenic present in drinking water for 7, 14 and 21 days respectively. After stipulated period the liver tissue was isolated for histopathological studies. The body weight, organ weight and their ratio decreased significantly (p<0.001). However, the SGOT, SGPT, ACP and ALP has shown an increase significantly (p<0.001) as compared to control groups. The histopathology of liver shows necrosis, appearance of vacuoles, nuclear degeneration changes after arsenic toxication. However, the alteration in enzymes and histopathological changes are dose dependent in the present investigation.