title: Blood lead concentration and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in adult Bufo arenarum.
abstract: The effects of sublethal doses of lead (as acetate) on blood parameters of adult male Bufo arenarum were studied. Toads received one single injection with 10, 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg of body weight, equivalent to approximately 1/90-1/10 of the 120 h-LD50; seven days after the injections, the hematocrit and the blood delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity were measured. Hematocrit of lead-injected animals did not exhibit significant changes respective to controls that received sodium acetate (range 29.8-38.8%). Blood lead concentrations were positively and significantly correlated with the injected metal doses. Blood ALAD activity declined proportionately to the doses of the metal as well as to its whole blood concentration. Because of its sensitivity and specificity, it was concluded that the activity of delta-ALAD may be adopted as a reliable biomarker of Bufo arenarum experimental lead intoxication.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arrieta
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Perí
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Apartín
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salibián
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002022:Bufo arenarum / Q000097:blood*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D006400:Hematocrit; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase; C008261:lead acetate