LAUSR

The morphology and oxidation state of arsenic in its compounds affects the skin cell toxicity. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to explore the effects of two different arsenic compounds on the proliferation and survival of Liaoning cashmere goat skin fibroblasts. Based on MTT assay results, at 24 h, the proliferation concentration, critical concentration, and half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of sodium arsenite were 0.50, 5.00, and 45.66 μmol/L, respectively. The corresponding values for dimethyl arsenic acid were 0.85, 1.00, and 38.68 mmol/L. Immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, and mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) assays showed that sodium arsenite promotes microtubule polymerization and increases MMP, while cells treated with dimethyl arsenic acid exhibited cytoskeletal collapse and decreased MMP. In the IC50 groups for both arsenic agents, the cytoskeletons collapsed, microtubules were gathered into bundles, and MMP was significantly decreased. Dimethyl arsenic acid had a stronger effect on MMP than sodium arsenite. Flow cytometry revealed a slightly lower occurrence of apoptosis in the sodium arsenite proliferation group, while it was slightly increased in the dimethyl arsenic acid proliferation group. Apoptosis was increased more significantly in the sodium arsenite IC50 group than in the dimethyl arsenic acid IC50 group. These results indicate that the differences in cell proliferation and cytotoxicity induced by inorganic and organic arsenic are related to their effects on cellular structures.