Beneficial effects of certain antidotes in mitigating fluoride and/or arsenic induced hepatotoxicity in mice

The effects of co-administration for 30 days of sodium fluoride (NaF) (5 mg/kg body weight) and/or arsenic trioxide (As sub(2)O sub(3)) (0.5 mg/kg body weight) on the liver of female mice (Mus musculus) were investigated. The beneficial effects if any, of vitamin C (15 mg/animal/day), or calcium phosphate (25 mg/animal/day) or vitamin E (2 mg/animal/day) administered alone and in combination were also studied. Histopathological examinations of the treated groups revealed hepatocellular necrosis, extensive vacuolization, and fatty deposition in the liver. The treatments also caused marked alterations in liver functions revealed by the significant increase in serum transaminases and glycogen and the significant inhibition of phosphorylase activity thereby indicating altered carbohydrate metabolism. Withdrawal of NaF + As sub(2)O sub(3) treatments for 30 days resulted in some recovery in the histology and biochemical parameters. The toxicity induced by NaF + As sub(2)O sub(3) was significantly reversed by the individual administration of various antidotes, viz., vitamins C and E or calcium. However, administration of all three antidotes together resulted in significant recovery in all parameters studied. Thus fluoride and/or arsenic induced effects were transient and mitigated by antidotes.