Time-dependent localization of arsenic in subcellular liver fractions

In an effort to assess previously reported localization of arsenic within the hepatocyte nucleus (determined on the basis of increases in the percent of nuclei containing inclusion structures as time of exposure to arsenic increased) (Sorensen, 1976c), cell separations were conducted on fish livers following in vivo exposures identical to those previously reported. Green sunfish were exposed to 60 ppm arsenic for 2, 4, or 6 days prior to homogenation and subfractionation of the liver for arsenic determinations by neutron activation analysis. Mean percent arsenic in the soluble cytoplasmic fraction decreased significantly from 46 to 28 to 17 percent in 2, 4, or 6 days, respectively; whereas arsenic in the nuclear and cell residue fraction increased significantly from 12 to 42 to 58 percent during the same time period. All subfractions were found to contain homogeneous populations of subcellular organelles.