The aim of this work was to assess and compare morphological changes in blood and bone marrow of rabbits after per os (po) or intraperitoneal (ip) administration of equimolar doses of tin or lead. The experiment was performed on female rabbits that were divided into four groups of six animals each, and received stannous chloride SnCl2 x 2 H2O (Merck) or lead acetate Pb(CH3COO)2 (POCh Gliwice) in equimolar doses (ip--17/microM/kg) or per os (po--85/microM/kg). Group I was administered SnCl2 ip at the dose of 2 mg Sn/kg every day for 3 mo, group II Pb(CH3COO)2 ip at a dose of 3.5 mg Pb/kg every day for 3 wk, group III po SnCl2 (10 mg Sn/kg), and group IV po Pb(CH3COO)2 (17.5 mg Pb/kg), both for 4 mo. The morphological factors hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), erythrocyte (Ercs), and reticulocyte counts, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and erythropoietic system in bone marrow aspirates with sideroblast count, iron concentration, TIBC, and SI were estimated. Tin caused hemolytic anemia depending on abnormal iron utilization. After ip administration of tin, anemia was observed during the whole time of the study, whereas after po exposure, transient anemia was noticed. It has been proven that the mechanism of toxic action of tin on hematopoietic system is similar to the toxic effect of lead.

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