Effects of simultaneous repeated exposure at high levels of arsenic and malathion on hepatic drug-biotransforming enzymes in broiler chickens

Groundwater contamination with arsenic is a major global health concern. The organophosphorus insecticide malathion has gained significance as an environmental pollutant due to its widespread use in agriculture, grain storage, ectoparasite control and public health management. The deleterious effects produced by arsenic or malathion alone are documented, but very little is known about the consequences of their coexposure. The aim of the current study was to examine the effects of repeated simultaneous exposure to arsenic and malathion on drug-biotransforming enzymes in the liver of broiler chickens. One-month-old broiler chickens were exposed daily to arsenic (50 ppm)-supplemented drinking water, malathion (500 ppm)-mixed diet or in a similar fashion coexposed to these agents for 28 days. At the term, changes in body weight, organ weights, and levels of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP), cytochrome b5, microsomal and cytosolic proteins; aminopyrine N-demethylase (ANDM), aniline P-hydroxylase (APH), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) were assessed. Arsenic, malathion or their coexposure decreased the body weight gain and liver weight. Brain weight (relative) was increased with arsenic or malathion, but not with the coexposure. Treatment with arsenic decreased the CYP and cytochrome b5 contents by 39 and 36%, than with malathion by 54 and 22% and the coexposure by 45 and 28%, respectively. The ANDM activity was decreased with arsenic (44%), malathion (23%) and the coexposure (32%). Arsenic (23%) and the coexposure (37%), but not malathion (14%), reduced the APH activity. The activities of hepatic microsomal and cytosolic GST were increased with all the three treatments [Arsenic (microsomal: 88% cytosolic: 113%), malathion (microsomal: 137%, cytosolic: 94%) and coexposure (microsomal: 140%, cytosolic: 148%)]. These treatments did not significantly affect the hepatic UGT activity, but reduced the hepatic microsomal (arsenic: 28%, malathion: 34% and coexposure: 43%) and cytosolic (17–19%) protein contents. The effects of coexposure on the activities of various phase I and phase II drug-biotransforming enzymes were almost similar to that of arsenic or malathion. This study provides evidence that repeated coexposure to arsenic and malathion may influence the extent of drug metabolism in chickens.