Cellular response to oxidative damage in lung induced by the administration of dimethylarsinic acid, a major metabolite of inorganic arsenics, in mice.

Oral administration of dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA), a major metabolite of inorganic arsenics, induces DNA damage in the mouse and rat lung due to both active oxygens and dimethylarsenic peroxyl radical produced in the metabolism of DMAA. Our paper describes the cellular response to DMAA in the mouse lung. In male ICR mice given a single po dose (1500 mg/kg) of DMAA-Na, the activities of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase significantly increased at 6 hr or longer after dosing, while cytosolic superoxide dismutase and catalase did not. With regard to cellular sulfhydryls after DMAA dosing, levels of reduced glutathione and nonprotein sulfhydryl decreased, while mixed disulfides significantly increased. Further, NADPH markedly decreased at 6-9 hr after DMAA dosing. These cellular variations suggest that the mouse pulmonary cell produced active oxygens, i.e., superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide, and subsequent radicals in the metabolism of DMAA and that these and also the dimethylarsenic peroxyl radical were responsible for pulmonary DNA damage.