Impact of Short-Term Arsenic Exposure on Hormonal Balance and Fibrosis in Sprague Dawley Rats

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the toxic effects of arsenic exposure on the female reproductive tract and endocrine
system.
Study Design: A laboratory-based experiment.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Laboratory of the National Institute of Health
(NIH) Islamabad, Pakistan from 1^st January 2019 to 4^th January 2020.
Methods: non-probability convenient sampling technique was employed and 60 female healthy Sprague
Dawley rats were included in the study at the National Institute Islamabad. Animals were randomly allocated
into control and experimental groups (n=30 each). In the first week, animals were acclimatized to the animal
house of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan. In the second week, the control and experimental
groups were given 10 ml of distilled water by oral gavage daily and 4μg of sodium arsenite dissolved in 10 ml of
distilled water daily for two weeks respectively. After the experimental period, animals were taken to the
animal lab of the National Institute of Health Islamabad for blood sampling and tissue dissection. Rats were
euthanized by chloroform inhalation and blood was drawn by single intracardiac puncture and stored in clot
activator vials at 4 0C for further workup. The female reproductive tract was dissected, and the tissue was stored in 10 % formalin for histological studies. Serum Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) levels were assessed via the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Whereas histological effects of arsenic were observed under a microscope by tissue processing and staining with Masson trichrome stain. Mean ± SD of serum GnRH levels and percentage of fibrosis in uterine tissue of control and experimental groups were
evaluated by the software Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22.0. Comparison of means evaluated
by Student T-test. The significant p-value was ≤ 0.05.
Results: The experimental group showed significant elevation of serum GnRH levels and fibrotic changes with
high collagen deposition (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusion: Exposure to arsenic via contaminated drinking water is disruptive for the female reproductive tract
and endocrine system.

How to cite this: Mir A, Mir UZ, Hussain W, Irfan A, Butt HA, Sarwar U. Impact of Short-Term Arsenic Exposure on Hormonal Balance and Fibrosis in Sprague Dawley Rats. Life and Science. 2024; 5(2): 187-192. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.64