ABSTRACT
The objective of this study is to explore the interaction between lead pollution and the anticoagulant rodenticide, diphacinone, on adult male albino rats through the disturbances occurring in enzyme activities due to these risk factors. Following are the results obtained: Treatment of animals with diphacinone only has resulted in variable effects on various parameters examined where the highest effect was noticed on the kiduey. However, treatment of rats with lead [Pb] before exposure to diphacinone has counteracted most of the toxicological effects of the anticoagulant on the kidney as evidenced from unaltered renal GPT, alkaline phosphtase and brain 5 -nuclcotidasc and Pb concentration. The effect of the anticoagulant on serum constituents was restricted to 5 nucleotidase activity. However, moderate but significant decrease in sGPT activity was also recorded. With respect to alkaline phosphatase [ALP], diphacinone intoxication has no effect on the activity of this enzyme in both serum and brain, whereas it stimulates hepatic enzyme activity and depressed the activity of this enzyme in the kidney. On the other hand, diphacinone intoxication of animals pretreated with Pb for 28 days has resulted in decreases in activity of ALP in both serum and brain, whereas no detectable change occurred in both liver and kidney. Lead concentration underwent significant decreases in various organs examined following diphacinone treatment when compared with the control groups