Abstract
The dangerous effect of lead was evaluated in male mice exposed to lead acetate at dose 2000 and 4000 ppm in drinking water, as well as subjects working in fields with high lead levels. Lead exposure exhibited marked decrease in body weight, as well as in hematological parameters such as hemoglobin content, hematocrit percent, erythrocytes and leucocytes count. In addition, there was a disruptive effect on neurological and endocrinological systems reflected by alterations in T3, T4, testosterone and cortisol hormones. In contrast, there was an elevation in serotonin level, along with a reduction in the concentrations of plasma Zn and Fe in lead exposed mice and human individuals. The study showed increases in the lipid peroxidation product (MDA), accompanied with decreases in GSH and SOD in lead exposed subjects and animals. The study thus indicated that exposure to lead pollution should be avoided as it affect neuro-endocrinological systems, increases oxidative stress and decreases fertility.
Highlights
The toxic effects of lead demand particular attention because of its characteristically cumulative feature associated with slow turnover and a long biological half-life [1]
Chronic lead exposure exhibited marked decrease in mice body weight gain especially high dose (Figure 1) compared to control group and this could be due to toxic effect of lead on cellular metabolism and growth rate of animals
The present study revealed that lead exposure caused a significant decreased RBCs count; and Hb content these results agreed with Rice-Evans [21], these result which may be due to a high affinity of lead for sulph-hydryl groups, those of metallo-enzymes that impairs the biosynthesis of hemoglobin by interfering with several enzymatic steps in the heme pathway [22]
Summary
The toxic effects of lead demand particular attention because of its characteristically cumulative feature associated with slow turnover and a long biological half-life [1]. Lead exposure damages different vitally important systems, especially the central nervous system (CNS), after its penetration into the body with food, water and air containing the exhaust of engines that run on gasoline [5]. Villeda-Hernandez et al [8] showed that, oxidative stress can cause damage to biomolecules by free radical attachment to polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) side chains in cells and this leads to lipid peroxidation which produces malondialdehyde (MDA), being toxic in nature. They reported that, lead induced monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and affected dopamine metabolism in most of brain regions
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