Effects of chronic arsenic poisoning on serum inhibin-B and testosterone in male rats

Objective To evaluate the effects of chronic arsenic poisoning on serum inhibin-B (INH-B) and testosterone of male rats.Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley rats in cleanliness grad were randomly divided into four groups according to body weight:high-dose,middle-dose,low-dose arsenic exposure groups and control group,10 animals in each group.Rats in high-dose,middle-dose,and low-dose groups were administered with arsenic in concentrations of 10.0,5.0,2.5,0.0 mg/kg in distilled water,respectively.Rats in control group were fed with distilled water freely.After 9 months,serum INH-B and testosterone were tested using an ELISA Kit.Results Serum INH-B and testosterone levels in the above mentioned four groups,respectively,were (66.31 ± 37.21),(75.13 ± 29.88),(119.02 ± 36.10),(133.04 ± 38.67)ng/L and (1.292 ± 0.715),(1.757 ± 0.649),(2.359 ± 0.675),(2.817 ± 0.890)μg/L,and the differences between different groups were statistically significant (F=84.88,8.214,all P ＜ 0.05).Serum INH-B and testosterone levels in high-dose and middle-dose groups were significantly lower than that of control group(all P＜ 0.05),whereas no significant difference was found between low-dose group and control group (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Chronic arsenic poisoning has led to decreased concentration of serum INH-B and testosterone in male rats. Key words: Arsenic poisoning;  Serum;  Inhibins;  Testosterone