title: Histochemical changes in muscle of rats exposed subchronically to low doses of heavy metals.
abstract: Heavy metals are ubiquitous in the environment and exposure through food and water as well as occupational sources can constitute a potential threat to human health. The mechanisms of heavy metal damage include the production of free radicals that alter mitochondrial activity, affecting cellular types like neurons and muscular fibres. We examined whether rats exposed subchronically via drinking water to low doses of heavy metals can produce alterations in muscle. Results showed that the proportion of ragged red fibres increased in muscle of rats exposed to lead and thallium, likewise slight changes in enzymatic activity of muscular fibres were also observed.
authors.affiliation: Lab. Neuropatología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía MVS, Insurgentes sur 3877, Tlalpan C.P. 14269 México, Mexico. mmendezarmenta@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Méndez-Armenta
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nava-Ruiz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernández-Valverde
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez-García
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rios
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013793:Thallium / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D009243:NAD; D007854:Lead; D013793:Thallium; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases