Ultrastructural alterations of liver and spleen following acute lead administration in rats

Effects of lead on collagen synthesis and renal function in the rat

“…Parenchymal cells of rats injected with 5 mg lead acetate contain scanty rER, increased sER and smooth vesicles containing finely granular, electron dense material after six hours. Spleen RE cells possess vacuolated mitochondria with less of cristas and ssooth vesicles similA-r ro rhose in the liver parenchymal cells (Hoffmann et al 1972). …”

“…Another explanation for impaired hepatic and splenic detoxification is the lead-mediated inactivation of the -SH-containing enzymes (Selye et al 1966, Bertok 1968, Hoffmann et al 1972. The activity of the drug-metabolizing enzymes is reduced via impairment of the mixed-function oxidase system (Scoppa et al 1973) and also by reduced availability of cytochrome P-A50 (Alvares et al 1972).…”

Effects of subclinical lead exposure on the resistance of swine to challenge with Salmonella choleraesuis var Kunzendorf

“…After an i. injection of lead acetate, Hoffman et al (1972) observed ultrastructural alteration of the mito chondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomes of Kupffer cells. These cells contained a finely granular, electrondense material which may have been protein-bound lead.…”

“…Rutenberg et al (1950) found macrophages to have potent endotoxin detoxifying activity vitro. Hoffman et al (1972) felt that Kupffer cells played an important part in uptake and detoxification of endotoxin while hepatocytes were important sites for adjustments of fat, carbohydrate, and protein metabolism necessary for tolerance of endotoxin exposure.…”

“…Hoffman et al (1972) suggested that rather than effecting humoral immunity, lead might act to increase susceptibility to infections by causing impaired phagocytosis or impairment of protein synthesis by phagocytic cells.…”