Effect of natural antioxidants on lead toxicity in rats; histological and histochemical assessment of the liver

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted on 40 adult male albino rats divided into four4 equal groups. Groups I and II were used as controls, they received 1 ml distilled water in group I, or sodium acetate 400 mg/kg/day orally in group II. Group III received lead acetate 400 mg/kg/day orally and group IV received lead acetate plus a combination of the 3 natural antioxidant vitamins E [100 mg/kg/day], A [7500 IU/kg/day] and C [1000 mg/kg/day]. Results showed that, the toxic manifestations of lead in group III, cellular degeneration, proliferation, widening of hepatic sinusoids, infiltration and decreased activity of lactic dehydrogenase [LD], succinic dehydrogenase [SD], and adenosine triphosphatase [ATP-ase] enzymes, were greatly improved in group IV. It can be concluded that the combination of the three antioxidant vitamins [E, A and C] seemed to have a remarkable effect in improving the hazards of lead intoxication