HISTO-AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF PLEUROTUS TUBERREGIUM AGAINST LEAD INDUCED HEART, SPLEEN AND LOWER GUT DAMAGE IN ALBINO RAT

Abstract

This study evaluates ameliorative effect of Pleurotus tuberregium on the effects of lead (Pb) using different concentrations of Pleurotus tuberregium /growers mash feed mixture in 90 Albino rats divided into six groups with three replicates (with 5 rats per group) for 21days pre-experimental stage for proper acclimatization. There after all the experimental groups were exposed to 0.1 g/l of lead daily for 21days. At the end of exposure period, lead salt was discontinued for 21and 42days post-experimental stage. Tissues of heart, spleen and lower gut were then collected and subsequently analyzed for the structural changes at every 21days interval. The tissues of the pre-experimental stages showed normal tissues as those of the control except in the lower gut which showed ileal mucosa with chronic inflammatory cell infiltration and muscularis propria. However, the experimental groups, showed observable damages to the tissues of heart (with transmural oedoma and myocardial degeneration, interstitial haemorrhage and coronary vascular hypertrophy), spleen(with focal activated follicles and sinus hyperplasia.) and lower gut (have ileal mucosa with focal atrophy and normal muscularis propria) which improved in the post experimental stages after 21 and 42 days with increased Pleurotus tuberregium content in the feed. The results of this study demonstrated that P .tuberregium may ameliorate lead toxicity in heart, spleen and lower gut tissues