Ultrastructural alterations in the hepatic tissues of white rats (rattus norvegicus)‎ induced by experimental lead toxicity

Abstract EN

Lead is a multi targeted toxicant causing effects in different organs of the body.

The present ultra structural study was undertaken on the hepatic tissue of male Westar albino rats to investigate the ultra structural alterations due to lead intoxication at concentration and duration which showed no marked pathological or histological changes.

Two groups of male Westar albino rats (Rattus noroegicus), 6 animals each were used.

The treated group was exposed to 0.25% lead acetate trihydrate in drinking water for 6 months.

Sodium acetate replaced lead acetate for the control group.

In comparison with respective control rats, chronic exposure to sub toxic doses of lead produced ultra structural alterations in hepatocytes involving mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes and nuclei.

Also, Kupffer cells, sinusoids and bile canaliculi showed some alterations.

The present study shows that although chronic exposure to low sub toxic doses of lead does not produce marked histological changes, it can induce adverse sub cellular alterations in the hepatic tissue