title: Changes in hemorheological parameters due to lead exposure in female rats.
abstract: Lead is an ubiquitous metal in the environment that induces a broad range of physiological, biochemical and behavioral dysfunctions. The purpose of this study was to investigate its effects on blood parameters and blood viscosity. Female rats (14 Wistar-Albino type) were divided into a control and a lead exposed group. Both groups were fed with the same standard food, but lead acetate was added to the drinking water of the experimental group for 5 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were drawn from the abdominal aorta of the anaesthetized animals. Hematocrit (Hct %), hemoglobin (Hb), and the number of erythrocytes were determined, blood viscosity was measured with a rotational viscometer, and the lead concentration in blood was analyzed by means of flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The erythrocyte count, Hb and Hct % of the lead exposed group were found to be significantly lower than in the control group (p<0.01). The blood viscosity level was significantly higher compared to the control group (p<0.01). It can be concluded that increased lead concentrations in blood impair certain hemorheological mechanisms and increase blood viscosity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, 34303 Istanbul, Turkey. toplan@istanbul.edu.tr
authors.forename: Selmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toplan
authors.forename: Dervis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ozcelik
authors.forename: Tevfik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gulyasar
authors.forename: Mehmet Can
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Akyolcu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D018056:Hemorheology / Q000187:drug effects*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins