Protective Effects of Kisspeptin-10 and N-Acetyl Cysteine against Sodium arsenite induced Toxicity in Liver and Kidney of Adult Male Mice

Abstract

Arsenic, a heavy metal, can exist in both organic and inorganic forms and is often present in soil and water that has become contaminated. The inorganic form of arsenic is more dangerous and has been linked to a range of adverse health effects, including damage to the kidneys and liver, cardiovascular problems, neurological abnormalities, and malfunctions of the nervous system. N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC), a strong antioxidant, has been utilized for the treatment of numerous diseases and toxicities. Additionally, kisspeptin, a hypothalamic peptide recently discovered, plays a vital role in the central regulation of reproductive processes. A recent study evaluated the effect of kisspeptin-10 and NAC on liver and kidney function in male mice exposed to low and high doses of sodium arsenite in drinking water. The study divided the mice into various groups: tap water control, sodium arsenite only, kisspeptin-10 only, NAC only, and combinations of sodium arsenite with kisspeptin-10 and NAC. The kisspeptin-10 was administered once a week and NAC was given every alternate day. The study aimed to examine the potential benefits of these treatments in counteracting the toxic effects of arsenic. The results of the study showed that exposure to sodium arsenite caused a significant increase in oxidative stress markers (ROS and TBARS) in the liver and kidney, compared to the control group. The levels of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, POD, and GSH) were significantly decreased in the sodium arsenite-treated group. The total protein content increased in the liver and kidney. The study also found that the arsenic-treated groups had significantly higher levels of AST, ALP, ALT, and creatinine in the liver and kidney tissue. Additionally, the levels of triglycerides and cholesterol were also analyzed. The study found that exposure to arsenic altered the normal histological structure of the kidney and liver. The kidney tissue showed a shrunken glomerulus, increased Bowman's space, decreased glomerulus diameter, leukocyte infiltrations, and vacuole formation. The liver tissue showed an increased sinusoidal space, irregular hepatocyte distribution, and nuclear cell infiltrations. Additionally, the study reported a non-significant decrease in organ mass index in the arsenic-treated group. The results showed that both kisspeptin and NAC supplementation were effective in preventing kidney and liver damage caused by sodium arsenite. When combined with sodium arsenite exposure, both kisspeptin and NAC prevented significant tissue damage. The combination of kisspeptin and NAC with sodium arsenite exposure improved the oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes, biochemical effects, and histoprotective effects better than kisspeptin-10 supplementation alone. This indicates the synergistic effect of kisspeptin and NAC in protecting against arsenic-induced toxicity in the liver and kidney of adult male mice