Evaluation of Serum Status of Biochemical Indices of Liver Injury and Oxidative Stress in Rats Exposed to Warri River Levels of Pb and Other Identified Metallic Co Pollutants

Abstract

This study investigated serum status of biochemical indicators of liver injury and oxidative stress in rats exposed to Warri River level of lead(Pb) alone and in the presence of metallic co-pollutants. A total of 55 albino rats (of Wistar strain) weighing an average of 150.00± 09.00g, divided into 11 groups were used for the study. Groups I and II represented the deionized and Pti borehole water controls, while groups III- XI represented the test rat groups orally treated with water containing laboratory reconstituted Warri River Pb level on one hand and in the presence of laboratory reconstituted identified metallic co-pollutants including Fe, Ca, Cu, Mn, Mg, Zn via water on the other hand. The serum biochemical –hepatotoxic indices investigated were liver/body wt. ratios, body wt. change, lipid per oxidation products, plasma ALT and AST, plasma and liver alkaline phosphatase activities, plasma catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, plasma total and conjugated bilirubin level, plasma and urine glucose concentration, and plasma and urine total protein concentration. Our findings revealed an overall significant (P<0.05) decrease in liver/body wt ratios and body wt change , significant (P<0.05) increase in plasma ALT and AST activities, induced ALP and ACP activities, increase in SOD and catalase activities, increased plasma and urine bilirubin concentrations, decreased plasma and increased urine total protein concentrations, increased Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, while plasma and urine glucose levels were elevated in the groups of rats exposed to Pb only, Pb + Cu, Pb + Fe and Pb + Zn, Pb + All metallic co-pollutants, and river water relative to their respective controls (deionized water and Pti tap water groups). There was a significant (P<0.05) reversal of the above parameters in the groups of rats exposed to Pb + Ca, Pb + Mn, Pb + Mg. There was also a difference in liver/weight ratio, body wt. change and all the other parameters evaluated in this study, between groups of rats treated with Warri river water relative to the laboratory reconstituted water, although the changes were not significant (P>0.05). Our findings revealed that, the presence of Ca, Mg and Mn in the river water significantly (P<0.05)) reversed the induced activities of ALT, AST, ACP and ALP by Pb and some identified metallic co pollutants like Cu, Fe and Zn. This study also revealed the possibility of significant (P<0.05) decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase , plasma total and direct bilirubin and lipid per oxidation products of rats exposed to Warri River level of Pb in the presence of Ca, Mg and Mn relative to the Pb only group.