Background: Since arsenic compounds have an affinity to thiol groups their greatest amounts can then be found in the tissues containing sulphur-rich proteins, like beta-keratin in skin, hair and nails. Accumulation of arsenic also depends on the macronutrient content in daily food ration. The deficiency and excess of both the protein and fat may contribute to a higher content of arsenic in the organism, including hair in human or fur in animals.
Objective: Hair and fur is a good indicator of population exposure to many toxic substances, including arsenic. The degree of arsenic accumulation may depend on the diet and nutritional status. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of protein and fat in diet on the accumulation of arsenic in rats' fur.
Materials and methods: A total number of 70 male Buffalo rats (body weight 200 - 220 g, age - 6 weeks) were divided into 10 groups. Rats were housed in plastic cages (4 per cage) in a 12h light/dark cycle for 6 weeks. The diets of different protein and fat contents ware administered to the animals. Five of ten groups of rats received throughout the whole period 10 ppm sodium arsenite dissolved in distilled drinking water (about 250 µg As/animal/day). The arsenic were determined with the method of atomic adsorption spectrometry in conjunction with a graphite-furnace atomize using a Varian AA240FS apparatus.
Results: The highest arsenic concentrations were found in fur of rats which were given low protein diet and water with arsenic. The lowest arsenic contents were found in fur of rats, which were given control diet and high protein diet with arsenic in water.
Conclusions: Balanced control diet or high protein diet protected organism from arsenic accumulation, only small increase of arsenic content in rats' fur, compared to the control group, was observed.
Key words: arsenic, rats' fur, protein and fat in diet, exposure to arsenic.