Study on Toxic Effects of Lead Acetate on Cerebellar Cortical Tissue of Adult Albino Rats and the Role of Vitamin E as a Protective Agent.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Forensic medicine & clinical toxicology department, Faculty of medicine, South Valley University, Egypt.

2 Histology department, Faculty of medicine, Assiut University, Egypt.

Abstract

 Lead is a common industrial poison that persists in the environment and has many toxic effects on different organs & tissues especially on the central nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the effects of lead administration on cerebellar cortex of adult male albino rats and the possible protecting effects of vitamin E.  Materials and Methods: Forty male albino rats, (160 ± 10 g weight) were divided into four groups, ten rats each. In the control group rats were received distilled water daily, 2nd group rats were given 30 mg/ kg lead acetate dissolved in distilled water orally daily for two months, 3rd group rats were pretreated by 100 mg/ kg vit. E orally 6 hours before administration of lead acetate by the same dose as group 2 for two months, the 4th group rats were given the same dose of lead acetate then withdrawal was done for one month. Tissue specimens then prepared for light and electron microscopic examinations. The results: By light microscope, in rats treated with lead, the number of Purkinje cells showed a significant decrease in comparison to control group, and appeared shrunken, distorted in shape with irregular nuclei, while in rats treated with lead and vitamin E, there was marked improvement of these alterations.  Electron microscopic examination showed Purkinje cells with ill defined  nucleus, vaculated or rarified cytoplasm and small electron dense mitochondria. Granular cells showed vaculated cytoplasm and mitochondria with destroyed cristae. In case of vitamin E administration, marked protection against these changes was observed, while the withdrawal group showed very little or no improvement.

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