P53 and Bcl2 apoptosis proteins in meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid treated lead-intoxicated rabbits

Abstract

Lead (Pb) toxicity is one of the commonest environmental problems in our life; it causes many reversible and irreversible changes in our tissues. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) on treatment of oxidative stress caused by lead poisoning in rabbits. Lead acetate (Pb(Ac)(2)) was orally administrated to rabbits for 21 days and then treated by DMSA for another 21 days. The effect of this treatment was investigated by measuring 2 of the apoptosis proteins p53 and Bcl2. Also, the auto-oxidation rate and their histopathological changes in brain, bone and liver were investigated. Hemoglobin auto-oxidation rate is measured as well as histopathological study of liver. Our data indicate that exposure to rabbits to Pb(Ac)(2) caused a significant increase of apoptosis protein p53 and decrease in the antiapoptotic BCl2 proteins.