Assessment of physiological parameters and behavioral reactions in laboratory animals drinking water containing arsenic in a subchronic experiment

Arsenic (As) compounds play a negative role in solving the health-saving problems of the population by entering the human body aerogenically, as well as with water and food. Objective: to evaluate the physiological parameters and behavioral reactions in laboratory animals that took arsenic-containing water for drinking in a subchronic experiment that characterizes the stages of the adaptation process. The object of the study: white laboratory rats of the Wistar line (n=40), grouped into four groups: two control groups (1 — socially mature; 1 — young animals) — intact animals and two experimental groups of laboratory animals consuming water containing arsenic more than 0.01 mg/dm3 for drinking (3 — socially mature; 4 — young animals), 10 individuals each, with the breeding of 5 individuals from each group on the 30th and 60th days of the experiment. All animals were kept in comfortable conditions (normal photoperiodism and temperature +22–24 °C). The parameters of body weight and temperature and the functional activity of the nervous system were studied using the «Open Field» method. The statistical analysis was carried out using standard Statistica 10.0 application programs with the calculation of the median (Me) and the percentile interval. The probability of differences of 95 % or higher (p<0.05) was considered an acceptable level of reliability of the results. Animals of all groups showed a constant temperature balance and an increase in body weight by day 60 of the experiment, especially in the experimental groups. Indicators of motor, emotional, and research activity decreased statistically significantly on day 60 of the experiment in animals of the experimental groups, compared with the control groups. Further study of the effect of water containing high doses of arsenic on changes in body weight, temperature balance, anxiety, emotional state, and cognitive activity in model animals as biological (living) systems will help uncover the mechanisms of premature aging and various non-communicable diseases associated with the toxic accumulation of As in biological organisms.