Metabolomic changes in rat blood caused by acute poisoning with sodium metavanadate

The widespread use of vanadium and its compounds in various fields of industry causes an increase in its emissions into the environment. Workers of metallurgical enterprises and residents of nearby territories are the most susceptible to its influence. Despite its known therapeutic effects, reports of its negative effects require a more detailed study of the toxicodynamic properties of vanadium. At the same time, changes in the blood metabolome caused by the intake of vanadium have not previously been described in the literature. The results of this study will serve as a starting point in the creation of a diagnostic method for detecting disorders caused by exposure to vanadium compounds.

The study aims to identify metabolic changes in rat blood in an acute toxicological experiment with a single intraperitoneal administration of sodium metavanadate.

The scientists conducted a study on 22 male Wistar rats divided into three groups: rats injected with NaVO₃ solution at a concentration of 11.61 mg/kg (n=8); rats injected with NaVO₃ solution at a concentration of 18.40 mg/kg (n=8); control group (n=6). A semi-quantitative metabolomic blood test was performed using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.

A metabolomic blood test showed the effect of vanadium on lipid metabolism, among which in the groups exposed to NaVO₃, the authors found a decrease in the level of 3 glycerophospholipids, 1 short-chain acylcarnitine, 1 sphingolipid, 1 glycerolipid and an increase in the content of 2 long-chain acylcarnitines, while among tetrapyrroles they found an increase in bilirubin.

The results of a metabolic study of rat blood after a single exposure to pentavalent vanadium in the form of a NaVO₃ solution at concentrations of 11.61 and 18.40 mg/kg indicate the presence of changes in the animal body associated with the metabolism of lipids and tetrapyrroles. Based on them, under the action of vanadium, hepatotoxicity occurs: activation of lipolysis processes and disruption of energy metabolism due to changes in the process of β-oxidation.

Limitations. The level of metabolites in the blood of animals was determined semi-quantitatively.

Ethics. The study was approved at a meeting of the Local Ethics Committee of the Yekaterinburg Medical and Scientific Center for the Prevention and Health Protection of Industrial Workers of Rospotrebnadzor (Protocol No. 1/2 dated 06/09/2022).

Contributions:
Unesikhina M.S. — data collection and processing, text writing, editing;
Chemezov A.I. — research concept and design, data collection and processing, text writing, editing;
Sutunkova M.P. — research concept and design, editing;
Minigalieva I.A. — concept and design of research, editing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Received: 23.01.2025 / Accepted: 26.02.2025 / Published: 07.04.2025

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