Biochemical and histopathological alterations of liver and kidney of Japanese quails due to lead toxicity and effects of vitamin C

Abstract

Lead (Pb) is the most dangerous xenobiotic causing variety of negative impacts on human and animal health.The current study intended to investigate the effect of different doses of Pb on biochemical and histological abnormalities in the kidney and liver of quail and the beneficial effects of vitamin C. A total of 72 male quail, aged 12 days were allotted in four groups with four replications. Control group (T0) received normal diet, group T1 and T2 received Pb at a dose of 70 mg and 700 mg/kg body weight (bw) respectively for 21 days, while T3 had 700 mg Pb /kg bw for 10 days followed by only vitamin C supplementation at a dose of 70 mg/kg bw without any Pb for next 10 days. After end of treatment, blood serum was collected, and the kidney and liver were taken for a histoarchitecture study. Significant (p<0.05) Pb-induced elevations of biochemical markers of liver and kidney were observed in different periods of treatment (except d21-period of T3) and decreased following vitamin C supplementation in d21 of T3 (except creatinine).The effect of Pb treatment included congestion, necrotic foci in different organs, reactive cells in central vein, degeneration of hepatocytes, necrosis in the portal area as well as renal tubular degeneration, all of which were slightly improved by vitamin C in group T3. So, the findings suggest that the use of vitamin C could be a potential preventative agent against Pb-induced toxicity.