title: Biochemical changes and essential metals concentration in lead-intoxicated rats pre-exposed to ethanol.
abstract: The effects of chronic lead exposure on some hematopoietic and hepatic biochemical indices and urine, feces, and tissue essential metal concentration were investigated in rats pre-exposed to different doses of ethanol. Exposure to ethanol (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/kg intraperitoneally, once daily) for 4 weeks produced an inhibition of blood delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity and a decrease in hepatic glutathione (GSH) concentration. Ethanol ingestion also produced a dose-dependent elevation of hepatic lipid peroxidation. Blood and hepatic calcium and hepatic magnesium contents decreased and urinary Ca and fecal Ca and Mg contents increased significantly following 4-week exposure to ethanol (2 g/kg). Lead administration (10 mg/kg, orally) for 4 weeks in ethanol pre-exposed (2 g/kg) animals produced a more pronounced inhibition of blood ALAD and elevation of urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) excretion and hepatic GSH contents. Hepatic GSH contents decreased and hepatic lipid peroxidation increased significantly in rats given lead and pre-exposed to ethanol (2 g/kg). A more pronounced depletion of blood Ca and Mg and hepatic Mg was observed along with significant elevation of urinary Mg and fecal Ca excretion in animals administered lead and pre-exposed to ethanol (2 g/kg). The results suggest that nutritional deficiencies, particularly depletion of body Ca and Mg levels, play an important role in increasing susceptibility to lead intoxication in the rat.
authors.affiliation: Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dhawan
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Flora
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tandon
mesh_terms: D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D000431:Ethanol; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid; D005978:Glutathione; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium