Distribution of speciated arsenicals in mice exposed to arsenite at the early life.

The aim of this study was to explore distribution of speciated arsenicals in mice exposed to arsenite at early developmental stages. Levels of speciated arsenicals in both liver and brain of mice were analyzed by hydride generation of volatile arsines, and determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (HG-AAS). In the liver, levels of inorganic arsenic (iAs) increased on postnatal day (PND) 15, and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) increased on PND 21, however, levels of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in newborn mice were significantly higher than those on PND 10 and 15. In the brain, levels of iAs on PND 21 were the highest; iAs levels on PND 15 were also significantly higher than those on PND 35. Our results suggested transplacental transfer of arsenicals from pregnant mice into their fetus was relatively efficient, lactational transfer from mother mice into their offspring was inefficient, and transfer of iAs from blood into brain at early developmental stages was efficient.