Metabolism of arsenobetaine in mice, rats and rabbits

Vahter, Marie; Marafante, E.; Dencker, Lennart

doi:10.1016/0048-9697(83)90012-8

Cited by 215 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…[16] Arsenobetaine administered orally or intravenously to rats, mice, or rabbits is rapidly excreted in urine with little, if any, metabolism. [17] Another study in these species found arsenocholine was quickly converted to arsenobetaine without conversion to methylated metabolites. [18] However, the relatively insensitive analytical methods used in these studies (ion-exchange chromatography and paper electrophoresis) might limit quantitation of methylated metabolites present at low levels in urine.…”

Section: Trimethylarsonium Compoundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Commonalities in Metabolism of Arsenicals

Adair¹,

Waters²,

Devesa³

et al. 2005

Environ. Chem.

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Abstract. Elucidating the pathway of inorganic arsenic metabolism shows that some of methylated arsenicals formed as intermediates and products are reactive and toxic species. Hence, methylated arsenicals likely mediate at least some of the toxic and carcinogenic effects associated with exposure to arsenic. Trimethylarsonium compounds and arsenosugars are two other classes of arsenicals to which humans are routinely exposed and there is evidence that both classes are metabolized to produce methylated arsenicals. Here, we review evidence for production of methylated metabolism and consider the challenges posed in unraveling a complex web for metabolism of arsenicals in humans.

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Section: Trimethylarsonium Compoundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Commonalities in Metabolism of Arsenicals

Adair¹,

Waters²,

Devesa³

et al. 2005

Environ. Chem.

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“…Arsenobetaine (AB) is not acutely toxic and when orally ingested in a pure form is rapidly excreted unchanged and almost quantitatively in human urine (Lai et al, 2004) and animal urine (Vahter et al, 1983;Yoshida et al, 2001). Whilst these reports are testament to AB itself being a benign form of As, the situation for dietary intake of AB is less clear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Biotransformation of arsenobetaine by microorganisms from the human gastrointestinal tract

Harrington

Brima

Jenkins

2008

Chemical Speciation & Bioavailability

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The consumption of fish and shellfish is a major route of human exposure to arsenic (As), because they contain relatively large concentrations of organoarsenicals, in particular arsenobetaine (AB). AB is considered non-toxic because of its rapid excretion from the human body. However, previous studies on human metabolism and excretion of AB have used the compound in solution rather than considering the effects that occur during the digestion of food in the gastrointestinal tract. In this preliminary study, we used microcosms inoculated with human faecal matter to investigate the aerobic and anaerobic degradation of AB by microorganisms associated with the large intestine. Samples were recovered over 30 days, centrifuged, filtered and the supernatant analysed for total As content and As speciation, using ICP -MS and HPLC -ICP -MS respectively. After 7 days the total As in the supernatants from the aerobic experiment fell to a minimum of 65% of the total added, recovering to 15% less than added after 30 days. By using anion and cation exchange chromatography coupled to ICP -MS detection, arsenobetaine (AB), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), dimethylarsinoylacetic acid (DMAA) and trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO) were identified as degradation products. Results from the aerobic system showed that after 7 days incubation the AB had been degraded to DMA, DMAA and TMAO and after 30 days the degraded AB reappeared in the samples. The results for the anaerobic system showed no degradation of AB over the 30 day course of the experiment. These findings demonstrate for the first time that biocatalytic capability for AB degradation exists within the human gastrointestinal tract.

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“…Reduction of arsenate (As V) into arsenite (As III) is required to occur before methylation which involves glutathione (GSH) (Miller et al 2002;Vahter et al 1983). In the liver, some amount of arsenite (As III) is methylated by Sadenosylmethionine (SAM) which enzymatically transfers the methyl group from to methyl arsinate .…”

Section: B Metabolismmentioning

confidence: 99%