Abstract
The study evaluated the haematological and some antioxidant enzymes response to lead toxicity in male Wistar rats. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups viz., A, B, C and D. Group A served as the control while groups B, C and D were treated with 200, 300 and 400 ppm of lead (Pb) as lead acetate, respectively. Doses were orally administered in divided doses by intubation to ensure that each rat had the specified doses, after which they have access to water and feed. At the end of two weeks of treatment, blood samples were collected via the median canthus into heparinised tubes for blood lead determination and haematological analysis after which the remaining blood was centrifuged to obtain the plasma for determination of malonydialdehyde, catalase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase levels. There was a significant increase in blood lead concentrations ranging from 2.15±0.10 µg/dl to 9.21±0.05 µg/dl which was dose dependent while decreases in packed cell volume and the red blood cell counts ranging from 32-53% and 15-52%,respectively. At the highest dose of 400 ppm of lead there was significant decrease in the neutrophils and lymphocytes. There was significant (P<0.05) dose dependent increases in malondialdehyde while the activities of catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were significantly (P<0.05) reduced. In conclusion, lead disrupts the haematological system leading to generation of free radicals that overwhelm the antioxidant enzymes thus leading to oxidative stress.
Highlights
Lead poisoning is one of the intoxications most frequently found in the environment, mainly due to anthropogenic activities
The decrease in packed cell volume and red blood cell count ranges from 32-53% and 15-52% compared to the control group respectively
The result in table 1 shows an increase in the blood lead concentrations which was consistent with earlier findings (Okediran et al, 2010; Moussa and Bashandy, 2008) where they showed that absorbed lead following oral ingestion is carried via blood to soft tissues and 95% of blood lead is transported on the erythrocyte as lead diphosphate
Summary
Lead poisoning is one of the intoxications most frequently found in the environment, mainly due to anthropogenic activities. Lead is a heavy metal with an evidence of toxicity with widely recognized ubiquitous, long-lived and pervasive environmental and industrial toxicant throughout the world (Ademuyiwa et al, 2007; Spivey, 1978). Lead has been found to produce a wide range of toxic-biochemical effects involving several organs, systems and biochemical activities (Ademuyiwa et al, 2002; Sakai, 2000). Neurobehavioral, haematologic, nephrotoxic and reproductive effects of lead have been observed in humans and other animals (Goyer, 1991; Needleman et al, 1990). The alteration of the haem synthesis is an early effect associated with increased lead concentration in soft tissues. Inhibition of delta aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) and elevation of protoporphyrin in erythrocytes are the earliest effects, followed by increased delta aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and coproporphyrin excretion in urine (Makino et al, 2000; Sakai, 2000)
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