title: Oxidative stress, biochemical alterations, and hyperlipidemia in female rats induced by lead chronic toxicity during puberty and post puberty periods.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lead (Pb) is a toxic metal inducing many destructive effects leading to a broad range of physiological, biochemical, and neurological dysfunctions in humans and laboratory animals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we investigated the effect of chronic exposure to Pb (50 mg/l) on oxidative stress, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and lipid profile of two different age groups of female rats treated with Pb from delivery until puberty period (40 days, Pb40) and post puberty period (65 days, Pb65).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results clearly show that the administration of Pb produces oxidative damage in liver and kidney, as strongly suggested by the significant increase in TBARS, decrease in total SH, and the alteration of SOD activity. Elevation in liver function biomarkers, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and reduction in total protein (liver and plasma) and albumin are evidence of perturbations of liver synthetic function. In young Pb-treated group, Pb-induced nephropathy was more pronounced by the increase in the levels of creatinine, urea, and uric acid. However, hyperlipidemia was evident for both Pb-exposed groups leading to a potential risk for cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that Pb induces metabolic and oxidative disturbances depending on the age of the animals, which are not negligible.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aggression Physiology and Endocrine Metabolic Studies, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Annabi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alya
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aggression Physiology and Endocrine Metabolic Studies, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Dhouib Bini
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Ines
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aggression Physiology and Endocrine Metabolic Studies, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Lasram
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montassar
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aggression Physiology and Endocrine Metabolic Studies, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Gharbi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Najoua
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aggression Physiology and Endocrine Metabolic Studies, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: El Fazâa
authors.initials: el F
authors.lastname: Saloua
keywords: Female; Hepatotoxicity Hyperlipidemia; Lead; Nephrotoxicity; Rat