title: Chronic effects of lead (Pb) on bone properties in red deer and wild boar: relationship with vitamins A and D3.
abstract: Here we study the occurrence of abnormalities on bone tissue composition and turnover mechanisms through the Pb-mediated disruption of vitamins A and D in wild ungulates living in a lead (Pb)-polluted mining area. Red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) from the mining area had significantly higher liver and bone Pb levels than controls, which were associated with the depletion of liver retinyl esters and the corresponding increase of free retinol levels both in deer and boar from the mining area. Pb-exposed adult deer had lower carbonate content in bone mineral than controls, which was associated with the increased free retinol percentage. In wild boar, the degree of bone mineralization was also positively associated with higher burdens of retinyl esters. These results suggest that Pb-associated changes in bone composition and mineralization is likely influenced by the depletion of vitamin A in wildlife exposed to environmental Pb pollution.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain. jaime.rodriguez@uclm.es
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Estival
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Álvarez-Lloret
authors.forename: Alejandro B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Navarro
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mateo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000378:metabolism*; D003670:Deer / Q000378:metabolism*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005260:Female; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008906:Mining; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000378:metabolism*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D014801:Vitamin A; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D007854:Lead