Effects of arsenic exposure on trace element levels in the hippocampus and cortex of rats and their gender differences

Abstract Arsenic (As) exposure is a major public health challenge worldwide. Much evidence suggests that As exposure can cause disturbances in trace element balance in the body. However, there are few reports on the effect of As on trace element levels in the central nervous system (CNS). We conducted an experiment to detect 19 elements in the hippocampus and cortex of arsenic-exposed rats by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results showed that As levels in the hippocampus and cortex of arsenic-exposed rats were significantly higher than those in the control group, and As levels in the cortex were significantly higher than that in the hippocampus. In the hippocampus of arsenic-exposed group, the levels of Cd, Ho and Rb increased, while the levels of Au, Ba, Ce, Cs, Pd, Se, Sr and Tl decreased; In cortex, the levels of Cd and Rb increased, and the levels of Se and Au decreased. There were significant sex differences in the effects of As on Cd, Ba, Rb and Sr in the hippocampus and on Cd and Mo in the cortex. It is suggested that elemental imbalance may be a risk factor for the development of As toxicity and is closely associated with arsenic-induced CNS damage.