Author
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Uthus, Eric |
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Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2001 Publication Date: 3/20/2002 Citation: Uthus, E.O. 2002. Arsenic deprivation in rats is affected by vitamin B12 status [abstract]. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 16:A270. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Arsenic (As) may have a role in methionine (MET) metabolism. To determine the role of As in MET metabolism, 2 experiments, using As-deprived (As-, <10 ng As/g) or supplemented (As+, 0.5 ug As as NaAsO2/g) rats, were carried out. MET metabolism was stressed by nitrous oxide (N2O) exposure (90 min/d for the last 15-18 d). N2O inactivates cobalamin and hence MET synthase (MS), a vitamin B12-dependent enzyme. In experiment 1 there was n vitamin B12 added to the basal diet; experiment 2, which used the same basal diet, contained B12 (25 ug/kg). After 60 d 2 of 8 As- rats died in experiment 1, 2 others were cold and lethargic; this was not seen in As+ rats or in As- or As+ rats from experiment 2. Significantly increased plasma BUN and GOT suggest that there was kidney or liver damage in the As- rats from experiment 1. No vitamin B12 was detected in the plasma of rats from experiment 1. As did not affect the activity of MS in either experiment; however, the activity was found to be considerably lower in experiment 1 compared to experiment 2. Thus, it appears that if vitamin B12 status is very low, As deprivation has severe consequences. This finding suggests an interaction between As and vitamin B12. |
