ABSTRACT
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the subacute toxicity of arsenic (As) and chlorpyrifos (CPF) alone or in combination. In addition, the ameliorative effect of ascorbic acid on As and/or CPF-induced hepatic microsomal xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in rats was examined. Rats were divided into 9 groups of 6 animals each: control (deionized water), vehicle control (groundnut oil), ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg body weight), As (40 ppm in water), CPF (5 mg/kg body weight), As (40 ppm) + CPF (5 mg/kg body weight), As + ascorbic acid, CPF + ascorbic acid, and As + CPF + ascorbic acid. After 28 d of exposure, rats were sacrificed and liver was extracted for isolation of hepatic microsomes. Exposure to As or CPF alone as well as both of these in combination significantly altered microsomal proteins and activity of phase I and phase II xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes. Cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b 5 levels and activities of aniline p-hydroxylase (APH) and uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) were significantly decreased in groups treated with As, CPF, and As plus CPF, while glutathione S-transferase (GST) was not markedly altered. Enzymatic activity of aminopyrine N-demethylase (ANDM) was also significantly reduced in As- and CPF-only groups. Co-administration of ascorbic acid effectively countered the As- and CPF-induced alterations in xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes.
