title: An assessment of time-dependent effects of lead exposure in algerian mice (Mus spretus) using different methodological approaches.
abstract: Time-dependent effects of lead (Pb) toxicity were studied in Algerian mice (Mus spretus) treated with Pb acetate via drinking water (1 g Pb acetate/L) for different periods of exposure (15, 45, and 90 d). End points included the determination of hepatic Pb concentration and the assessment of some morphophysiological, biochemical and cytogenetical parameters. A control group receiving distilled water was also monitored for comparative purposes. Hepatic Pb accumulation increased with the time of exposure and was significantly higher in treated mice when compared to controls. In association with significant body mass loss in Pb-exposed mice, for 15 and 45 d, a significant increase in the relative spleen mass was observed after 45 d of intoxication. Pb-exposed mice also showed significant decreases in red blood cells, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. On the contrary, changes in plasma transferases (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase) and hepatic superoxide dismutase activities did not reach statistical significance. A significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic bone marrow erythrocytes was also found in the 90-d-exposed mice, compared to nontreated mice and the other exposed groups. Exposure to Pb acetate resulted also in a slight time-dependent decrease of the polychromatic-normochromatic ratio. These results support the concept that a long-term chronic exposure to Pb induced alterations upon some morphophysiological and genetic parameters in Algerian mice.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Viegas-Crespo
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ramalhinho
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mathias
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006400:Hematocrit; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C008261:lead acetate