Histological and Histochemical Alterations in the Kidney Induced by Lead

Abstract

Background: Although lead intoxication is one of the most common forms of metal intoxication, the histochemical alterations in the renal tissues due to chronic lead exposure is limited and has not yet been well identified. Subjects and Methods: A total of 60 male Wistar albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were exposed to lead acetate trihydrate (0.0, 0. 25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2% for 1 to 12 months) in drinking water to investigate the histological and histochemical alterations in the renal tissues due to lead. Results: Chronic exposure to subtoxic doses of lead produced distinct progressive tubular, glomerular and interstitial damages. Tubular changes occurred earlier than glomerular and interstitial ones, and included anisokaryosis, nuclear pyknosis, karyomeglay, development of intranuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions together with tubular dilation, necrosis, vacuolization, tubular hyperplasia and solid tubular adenoma. The glomerular alterations were mainly mesangial hypercellularity, segmental proliferation, focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, glomerular hyalinization and glomerular tuft alterations. Conclusions:The findings indicate that lead produces significant histological and histochemical changes in the kidney that lead to severe complications. Ann Saudi Med 2003;23(1-2):10-15. BM Jarrar, Histological and Histochemical Alterations in the Kidney Induced by Lead. 2003; 23(1-2): 10-15Key Words: Lead, kidney, intoxication, histology, histochemistry. Lead intoxication is probably the most common form of heavy metal intoxication, 1-3 and is well documented as one of the most dangerous and insidious poisons to man. [4][5] The absorbed lead is conjugated in the liver and is passed to the kidney, where a small quantity is excreted and the rest accumulates in and interferes with the function of body organs, especially the kidney as a target site for lead toxicity.6-9 Continuous environmental and occupational lead exposure can lead to chronic nephropathy, 6,10,11 which is a characteristic manifestation of lead toxicity and characterized by tubular, interstitial and glomerular damages, including renal lesions, tumors and cancer risk. 12-15The long-term effects of lead chronic exposure have been documented by several investigations with special attention to the exposure of developing animals and young children. 6,[16][17][18][19][20] The histochemical alterations in the renal tissues due to chronic lead exposure is limited and have not yet been well identified. With this objective, a detailed histological and histochemical studies were undertaken on the kidney of Wistar albino rats killed at one month intervals up to 12 months after lead acetate trihydrate treatment. Subjects and MethodsA total of 60 male Wistar albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) of the same age weighing 110-130 g of King Saud University colony were used. Animals were randomly divided into five groups of 12 rats each. Following a period of stabilization (7 days), lead acetate trihydrate was administered in drinking water at the rate of 0.0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1...

Ultrastructural Changes in the Kidney Cortex of Rats Treated with Lead Acetate

“…Many animal studies have shown that lead is capable of causing oxidative stress in the kidney, liver, and brain (Ercal et al, 1996;Patra et al, 2001). The absorbed Pb is conjugated in the liver and passed to the kidney, where a small quantity is excreted in urine and the rest accumulates in various body organs, affecting and affects many biological activities at the molecular, cellular and intercellular levels, which may result in morphological alterations that can remain even after Pb levels have fallen (Jarrar, 2003;Sidhu & Nehru, 2004;Taib et al, 2004;Flora et al, 2006). The kidney is a sensitive target organ for lead exposure.…”

Lead Acetate Induced histopathological Changes in Kidney Tissue of Rat

“…Therefore, a relative high lead concentration might reach the cortex via blood flow than that would enter the medulla [10].…”

Protective Effect of Some Chelating Agents and Antioxidants on the Biohazards Produced From Water Pollution by Heavy Metals in Wistar Rats: Biological, Genetic and Histopathological Study

“…As known, kidney is the major excretory and also the final organ of clearance for most of the xenobiotics. Furthermore, kidney is the most vulnerable organ to lead toxicity (Jarrar, 2003). It is known that mercury can cause unplanned and occupational exposures and poisoning will created from inhalation, ingestion, and absorption through the skin (Ercal et al, 2001).…”

“…Furthermore, antioxidants, plant extracts and chelating agents have the potential to inhibit these effects (Kumar et al, 2013;Jarrar, 2003;Mehana et al, 2012;Ekor et al, 2010). Our findings showed that both NAC and DMSA ameliorated the decrease in serum and mRNA expression of antioxidants.…”