Toxicological effects of arsenic trioxide on blood, serum biochemical constituents and hormonal profile of rabbits and their amelioration with olive oil

Arsenic is considered one of the major environmental toxic metals causing male infertility. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the toxic effects of arsenic trioxide on the body weight, serum biochemical constituents, hematological parameters, and hormonal profile of male rabbits. To ameliorate the toxicity of this metal, olive oil was used. For this purpose, sixteen adult male rabbits were randomly divided into four groups for this experiment. Group A was kept as control, group B (arsenic trioxide 5 mg/kg body weight), C (arsenic trioxide as in group B + olive oil 5 ml/kg body weight), and Group D (olive oil 5 ml/kg BW) were used in this experiment. The blood samples from these animals were collected every two weeks to determine the hematological values. Serum was also separated to analyze the hormonal profile and serum biochemical constituents. Obtained data of this experiment were subjected to two-way analysis factorial. Following the oral administration of arsenic trioxide, body weight significantly reduces in group B as compared to groups A, C and D. Similarly, level white blood cells, red blood cells, packed cell volume, and hemoglobin was reduced in group B as compared to other three groups. The endocrine profile indicated that the level of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone reduced in the arsenic trioxide group as compared to the control group. Arsenic trioxide in group B negatively influences the serum biochemical parameters as compared to the other three groups. Supplementation of olive oil alleviated the toxic effects on of parameters. It is concluded that arsenic trioxide causes major male reproductive toxicity, whereas olive oil has an ameliorating effect to reduce toxicity.