Sub-chronic arsenic exposure aggravates nephrotoxicity in experimental diabetic rats.

The present experiment was planned to study nephrotoxicity in experimental diabetic rats under sub-chronic exposure to arsenic. Alloxan induced diabetic and control rats were exposed to sodium arsenite (0 and 5.5 mg/kg, orally) for 30 days. More pronounced nephrotoxic effects were noted in arsenic exposed diabetic group as evidenced by increased blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and relative kidney weight and decreased level of reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase activity compared to non arsenic exposed diabetic group. Increased level of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities under diabetic condition remained unchanged in arsenic exposed diabetic group compared to unexposed diabetic group.