Journal of Clinical Toxicology
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0495
ISSN: 2161-0495
Olatunde Omotoso, Alimba G Chibuisi, Achi Ijeoma and Bakare A Adekunle
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Clin Toxicol
The persistence of chromium, copper and arsenic in the environment has been widely documented. They are found in the
environment as active components of a wood preservative called CCA (Chromate-Copper-Arsenate) with widespread exposure to
human and wildlife populations. Interactions between these elements may induce elevated genotoxic effects more than single element
itself. In vivo germ cell DNA damage induced by individual compound and CCA were investigated in mice using sperm morphology
assay and testes histology. Vitamin C effect in alleviating the genotoxicity was also studied. 0.5 mL of sub-lethal concentrations;
0.0625x, 0.125x, 0.25x, 0.5x and 1x of LD50 for the individual and CCA combination, were intraperitoneally injected for 5 days
according to the mice body weights. Similar treatments were given to distilled water and cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg b.w.t) groups;
negative and positive controls, respectively. A separate group was administered with vitamin C (20 mg/kg b.w) before the LD50
concentration. Animals were sacrificed on the 35th day for sperm morphology assay and testes histology. There was increase in the
induction of abnormal sperm morphology and various testicular lesions in treated mice compared to the negative control. However,
only CCA and chromium were statistically significant (p<0.05). Vitamin C treated mice presented insignificant abnormal sperm
morphologies with mild or no visible testicular lesions. The findings of this study showed that though arsenic and copper might not
be genotoxic, interaction between elemental components of CCA may be capable of inducing genotoxic effects. The study also showed
that exposure to CCA may increase reproductive toxicity in mammals.