Original scientific paper
The effect of exposure to lead on histopathological changes in the rat liver and kidney in relation to age
M. Piasek
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
K. Kostial
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
A. Bunarević
; Zavod za opću patologiju i patohistološku anatomiju Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Histopathological alterations in the liver and kidneys were examined in adult female rats and in their offspring form two matings after oral exposure to 7500 ppm lead (acetate) in drinking water. The length of exposure was up to 20 weeks. To estimate the reversibility of the effects in a number of exposed females lead administration was discontinued five weeks before their second breeding with unexposed males (the recovered group).
In the group of exposed adult females histopathological changes in parenchymal organs were analogous to those seen in their pups from the first (shorter exposure), and second offspring (longer exposure to lead). Fatty and/or hydropic degenerative changes in the liver and kidneys and haemosiderosis of the liver were observed in both adult females and their young. In the liver of exposed pups the presence of numerous large foci of extramedullary erythropoiesis was also detected. In the kidneys of exposed adult females non-specific chronic inflammatory changes were seen. In the group of recovered females, after discontinuation of oral exposure to lead, histopathological findings indicated the reversibility of morphological changes. In their “recovered” pups the findings were also almost normal. It may be concluded that young rats are more susceptible to adverse action of lead than their mothers. The histopathological changes observed in their livers and kidneys were analogous to those seen in adult females, although they had been exposed to lead for a much shorter period and to only a small fraction of the total mother's lead intake.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
152317
URI
Publication date:
26.7.1989.
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