Study of acute biochemical effects of thallium toxicity in mouse urine by NMR spectroscopy

Thallium (Tl) is a toxic heavy metal and its exposure to the human body causes physiological and biochemical changes due to its interference with potassium‐dependent biological reactions. A high‐resolution ¹H NMR spectroscopy based metabonomic approach has been applied for investigating acute biochemical effects caused by thallium sulfate (Tl₂SO₄). Male strain A mice were divided in three groups and received three doses of Tl₂SO₄ (5, 10 and 20 mg kg^?1 b.w., i.p.). Urine samples collected at 3, 24, 72 and 96 h post‐dose time points were analyzed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. NMR spectral data were processed and analyzed using principal components analysis to represent biochemical variations induced by Tl₂SO₄. Results showed Tl‐exposed mice urine to have distinct metabonomic phenotypes and revealed dose‐ and time‐dependent clustering of treated groups. The metabolic signature of urine analysis from Tl₂SO₄‐treated animals exhibited an increase in the levels of creatinine, taurine, hippurate and β‐hydroxybutyrate along with a decrease in energy metabolites trimethylamine and choline. These findings revealed Tl‐induced disturbed gut flora, membrane metabolite, energy and protein metabolism, representing physiological dysfunction of vital organs. The present study indicates the great potential of NMR‐based metabonomics in mapping metabolic response for toxicology, which could ultimately lead to identification of potential markers for Tl toxicity. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.