Haemato-biochemical and immunological studies in arsenic fed guinea pigs

In the present study, guinea pigs were given 1% aqueous solution of arsenic trioxide once @ 10 mg/kg body weight through single oral gavage to produce acute toxicity and @ 1 mg/kg body weight through oral gavages daily for 90 days to produce chronic toxicity. All the arsenic fed guinea pigs showed varying degree of clinical symptoms. The mean values of haemoglobin, PCV, TEC and TLC were decreased. There was decrease in protein values, while increased in values of glucose, urea, cholesterol, creatinine, bilirubin, AST, AST and ALP. Response to DNCB showed decrease in the skin thickness indicating poor reactivity of host against the mitogen by the cell mediated immune response.