SUB-CHRONIC INTERACTION OF SELENITE AND ARSENITE CAUSES DYSLIPIDEMIA IN MALE WISTAR RATS

Arsenic (As) an environmental toxicant constitutes a serious hazard to human health while selenium (Se), although a trace element recognized for its protective properties can be toxic depending on its chemical form and dose administered. This present study investigated the effects of co-exposure to As in form of sodium arsenite (As III) and Se as sodium selenite (Se IV) on the lipid profile of male albino rats. Thirty animals were divided into six; group I (control) received distilled water; groups 2 and 3 were exposed to 20 and 40 ppm arsenic as sodium arsenite respectively; in addition to 20 and 40 ppm arsenite, groups 4 and 5 were also administered 0.25 mg/kg b.wt selenite while group 6 was exposed to only 0.25 mg/kg/ b.wt selenite for five weeks. Hepatic, renal and splenic cholesterol (CHOL) concentrations increased significantly in animals co-exposed to 40 ppm (the higher As dose) + 0.25 mg/kg b.wt Se while a reduced CHOL resulted with the lower dose except in the lungs when compared to the control. Similarly, while an increased hepatic, splenic and plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) concentrations ensued on co-exposure to the higher dose, there was no significant (p>0.05) difference on co-exposure to the lower dose except in the plasma where a 24 % decrease was observed. The lipoproteins (HDL-CHOL and HDL-TAG) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in groups exposed to only As whereas LDL+VLDL concentrations of both CHOL and TAG increased in co-exposed groups in a dose-dependent manner. This study revealed the dyslipidemic potential of the sub-chronic exposure to both arsenite and selenite in male wistar rats.