Effect of phenobarbital on the distribution and excretion of lead in rats acutely poisoned with lead.
Lead (Pb) distribution and excretion after lead injection in rats treated with phenobarbital was examined to investigate the mechanism of the mitigation of Pb toxicity by phenobarbital treatment. Male rats were given 30 mg/kg of phenobarbital s.c. daily for 5 days, and 24 h later a single i.p. injection of 50 mg/kg Pb. The amount of Pb in the liver, red blood cells and heart increased markedly after Pb injection in rats treated with phenobarbital, whereas it decreased in lungs and remained unchanged in kidneys. The excretion of Pb via urine and feces was also suppressed by phenobarbital. From these results, it may be concluded that phenobarbital increased accumulation of Pb in the liver, and suppressed the transfer of Pb to other organs.
D000818:Animals; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D007854:Lead; D010634:Phenobarbital