Subchronic Oral Administration of Lead Exacerbate Liver and Kidney Toxicity in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Lead is an environmental and occupational toxicant. Compelling experimental data from previous studies have shown that following lead exposure, highest concentration of the absorbed lead is stored in the liver and the kidney, and this is expected to have severe consequences on the two organs. In this study, we investigated the effects of lead on the hepatic and renal structure and functions. Rats (n=24) were grouped into four of six animals each. Group 1(control) received drinking water only. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were orally exposed to 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight of lead respectively for 12 weeks, after which, blood, liver, and kidney were collected from the animals for biochemical and histological studies. One-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s test was used to analyze the results with (p <0.05) considered significant. Lead exposure caused a general decline in the percentage body weight gain and percentage relative liver weight. Physical trauma was also observed in the lead-treated rats. The lead exposure also significantly (p <0.05) enhanced the plasma activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, gamma-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase. Furthermore, a significant increase (p <0.05) was observed in the concentration of creatinine and urea in the plasma of the lead-exposed animals. The histological study also revealed several histological alterations in the liver and kidney of lead-exposed animals relative to the control animals. These findings indicated that exposure to lead may have adverse effects on the structure and function of both the liver and the kidney.