Lead Intoxication

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of chronic lead exposure on the mineral properties of alveolar bone. For this purpose, female Wistar rats (n = 8) were exposed to 1000 ppm lead acetate in drinking water for 90 days, while the control group (n = 5) was treated with sodium acetate. The alveolar bone structure and chemical composition of the dissected mandibles were examined using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques to determine possible alterations in alveolar bone due to lead exposure. In addition, changes in bone mechanical properties were analysed using a three-point bending test. Exposure to lead induced notable changes in bone mineralization and properties, specifically a reduction of the trabecular thickness and bone mineral ...

It has been shown the lead intoxication of growing rats result in increase the cavity and membrane carbohydrate hydrolysis and glucose absorption from small intestine which leads to hyperglicemiya. The oral treatment of intoxicated rats with inulin or lactulose results in decrease of carbohydrate assimilation in small intestine and content glucose level in blood. The correcting effect of lactulose on normalization of carbohydrate assimilation is more expressed in compare with inulin. So, inulin and/or lactulose take part in improving of adaptation of the carbohydrate assimilation system in the small intestine during intoxication with lead ions in growing rats. This suggests the prospect of their use as physiologically acceptable additives to stabilize carbohydrate digestion and blood glucose levels in lead and, possibly, other heavy metal intoxication in the growing organism.

Childhood lead poisoning has been established to cause a lot of health challenges, of which reproductive health perturbation is not least. This research work was designed to investigate the impact of lactational lead exposure on the developing testes in Sprague-Dawley rat pups. 12 female rats were used in the experiment and 23 offspring for the analysis of lactational lead intoxication. The offspring were divided into four groups. Groups B, C and D were administered 10 mg/dL, 30 mg/dL and 70 mg/dL of lead acetate respectively, via drinking water for 21 days while group A was control. The animal was firstly sedated using a chloroform-damped cotton wool in a vacuum (air-tight chamber). The sedated animal was weighed on a weighing balance and figure recorded. The animal was then perfused to clear blood from the organs before the organs were harvested, the testes of the pups exposed via lactation were observed via histological methods. Statistical analysis showed the total body weight a...

Fecha de recepción: 20 de septiembre de 2023 Fecha de aceptado para su publicación: 01 de noviembre de 2023 Las intoxicaciones en medicina veterinaria de mascotas ocurren con relativa frecuencia, si bien representan un porcentaje menor de la gran variedad de entidades patológicas a las que el clínico se enfrenta en la práctica diaria (bacterianas, parasitarias, metabólicas, traumáticas, quirúrgicas). A su vez dentro de las etiologías tóxicas, las producidas por metales, pesados son escasamente reportadas en la actualidad (en orden de importancia se describen intoxicaciones por rodenticidas warfarínicos, pesticidas, medicamentos de uso humano, toxinas, basura, medicamentos de uso veterinario, plantas tóxicas y alimentos). En el presente reporte se exponen dos casos de pacientes que sufrieron intoxicación con plomo, presentándose casi todos los signos clínicos que son históricamente reportados por la literatura. Si bien es cierto que es una entidad poco frecuente debido a la baja accesibilidad al metal pesado, consideramos que es sumamente 61 Intoxicación con plomo en dos caninos. Confirmación bioquímica, tratamiento específico y repaso de las alteraciones orgánicas más comúnmente reportados en Medicina Veterinaria.

Lead intoxication in a puppy is described. The puppy was submitted to surgical procedure for suspicion of acute abdominal pain. Diagnosis was established on the basis of the presence of eroded lead weights in stomach, biochemical and hematological blood tests as well as by elevated tissue lead concentrations.

Lead intoxication in a puppy is described. The puppy was submitted to surgical procedure for suspicion of acute abdominal pain. Diagnosis was established on the basis of the presence of eroded lead weights in stomach, biochemical and hematological blood tests as well as by elevated tissue lead concentrations.

Oxidative stress has been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of lead poisoning. Consequently, the potential protective effects of antioxidant agents had been raised. This study was designed to explore the potential protective effects of zinc against the oxidative stress due to chronic exposure to lead Lead-exposed workers were treated with 100mg zinc sulphate / day for 2 months, and the extent of oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring of erythrocytes and plasma content of GSH and MDA, in addition the Cu, Zn and Pb blood level were measured also. The results of this study showed that treatment with zinc sulphate significantly lowered MDA production and increased glutathione levels in plasma and erythrocytes. Blood lead levels, which were elevated significantly due to chronic exposure, showed a reproducible reduction after treatment with zinc sulphate, associated with improvement in copper and zinc levels in the plasma of lead workers. In conclusion, daily supplementation wi...

Abstract: Poverty, poor nutrition, environmental and social injustice prevailing in Latin America are factorsthat determine the action of pollutants on children. Lead poisoning and pollution constitute apublic health problem throughout the world. Lead affects multiple ...

Lead intoxication is a worldwide health problem which frequently affects the kidney. In this work, we studied the effects of chronic lead intoxication (500 ppm of Pb in drinking water during seven months) on the structure, function and biochemical properties of rat proximal tubule cells. Lead-exposed animals showed increased lead concentration in kidney, reduction of calcium and amino acids uptake, oxidative damage and glucosuria, proteinuria, hematuria and reduced urinary pH. These biochemical and physiological alterations were related to striking morphological modifications in the structure of tubule epithelial cells and in the morphology of their mitochondria, nuclei, lysosomes, basal and apical membranes. Interestingly, in addition to the nuclei, inclusion bodies were found in the cytoplasm and in mitochondria. The epithelial cell structure modifications included an early loss of the apical microvillae, followed by a decrement of the luminal space and the respective apposition and proximity of apical membranes, resulting in the formation of atypical intercellular contacts and adhesion structures. Similar but less marked alterations were observed in subacute lead intoxication as well. Our work contributes in the understanding of the physiopathology of lead intoxication on the structure of renal tubular epithelial cell-cell contacts in vivo.

Suspicion of lead poisoning is confirmed by its concentration in blood and protoporphyrin red blood cells. At low concentrations, lead influences the synthesis of the heme in the sense of lowering it. Acute and chronic lead intoxication is extremely polymorphic in regards to its clinical manifestations, with digestive, hematological, cardiovascular, renal hepatic and neurological features. The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of lead in human whole blood and urine harvested before and during chelation treatment in the case of lead poisoning. An atomic absorption spectroscopic method for the analysis of lead was developed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GF-AAS), Varian Spectra AA-880 with a hollow cathode lead lamp and a deuterium lamp for background correction, coupled to a GTA-100 atomizer and a programmable sample dispenser. Standard calibration solutions were used for the range 10-100 µg/l. The linearity range was 10.0 to 100.0 µg/l with the correlation coefficient of 0.999. We established that the method can be applied for the determination of lead in whole blood and urine, and the results obtained are useful for monitoring chelation therapy in cases of acute lead poisoning, a neglected cause of abdominal colic pain in an emergency situation.

This study was designed to determine whether alpha lipoic acid (ALA) which has been shown to have substantial antioxidant properties would ameliorate some of profenofos insecticide toxic effects. ALA administered (60mg/kg b.w.) to adult female rats for 14 days 1 hour after administration of 1/10 LD 50 (45 mg/kg b.w.) & 1/20 LD 50 (22.5 mg/kg b.w.) for profenofos insecticide which act as free radical inducer. Neurotransmitters [Dopamine (DA), Norepinephrin (NE), Serotonine (5-HT) and 5-Hydroxy indol acetic acid (5-HIAA)] were estimated in plasma. While malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) level, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were determined in liver, kidney and brain. The results revealed an increase in plasma serotonine (5-HT) levels in group of rats intoxicated with low dose of profenofos. A significant increase in MDA level (an indicator for lipid peroxidation) in liver of rats intoxicated with both doses of profenofos was recorded, concurrent with a significant reduction in GSH level and GST & SOD activities in most tested tissues of rats intoxicated with both doses of profenofos. Supplementation with alpha lipoic acid (60 mg/kg b.wt) 1 h after profenofos administration induced some but not complete improvement in all parameters whereas, it induced significant increase in plasma DA and 5-HT while it reduced lipid peroxidation in each of the examined tissues. These results accompanied with improvement in GSH level especially in liver, in addition to GST and SOD activities in some organs. Its effect differ from tissue to another. In conclusion ALA supplementation to profenofos intoxicated rats induced improvement in lipid peroxidation ,total glutathione level and glutathione-S-transferase activity.

Lead poisoning from gunshot wounds is unusual. Awareness of this rare but serious complication can guide the physician in making a prompt diagnosis. We present a case of a 30-year-old male who had a remote history of a gunshot wound in the right knee and presented with right knee pain. Plain film showed intrarticular invasion of the bullet fragments. He was also found to have microcytic anemia with high blood lead levels. Chelation therapy was immediately started, followed with surgical removal of the bullet fragments. Lead intoxication is a rare but fatal complication of gunshot wounds. After a timely diagnosis, chelation therapy should be immediately started.

Aceptado para publicación: 22 de junio de 2012. Las intoxicaciones por sustancias químicas representan un problema de salud pública. En Colombia hay poca información al respecto. Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo-retrospectivo longitudinal del comportamiento de la intoxicación originada por exposición a sustancias químicas y notificadas a través del Sistema de Vigilancia en Salud Pública (Sivigila) en Colombia durante el 2010. Los principales casos que presentan la mayor incidencia de intoxicación por sustancias químicas en Colombia son, en orden descendente, los plaguicidas, los medicamentos y otras sustancias químicas con el 89,65% del total de la notificación. El principal tipo de exposición fue la intencional suicida con el 44,04% de la notificación; la principal vía de exposición, la oral con el 72,14% de los casos notificados. El grupo de edad con el mayor número de casos notificados se concentró entre los 15 y 19 años, con el 22,17% del total de la notificación. El grado de escolaridad con el mayor número de casos de intoxicación correspondió a la educación secundaria, que representó el 47,47% de la notificación. El método de confirmación para la intoxicación fue la clínica con el 92,87% de la notificación.

Serum-aminolevulinic acid in plumln'sm Blood lead and serum ~-aminolevulinic acid levels were determined in groups of children with increased lead absorption, lead intoxication, and lead encephalopathy. Although blood lead values tended to be higher in children with intoxication, they tended to overlap those of patients with increased absorption but without intoxication. Serum ~-aminolevuIinic acid was consistently higher in patients with overt toxicity, with almost no overlapping of values. Blood lead and serum ~-aminolevulinir acid levels were both markedly elevated in patients with encephalopathy. Lead and ~-aminolevulinic acid values failed to correlate well. Cerebrospinal fluid ~-aminolevulinie acid values were consistently lower than serum values. It is concluded that serum 8-aminolevulinie determinations are valuable in selecting infants who are intoxicated from those exposed to increased amounts of lead.

Previous human and experimental studies have demonstrated that lead exposure may modify the metabolism of lipid. Oxidative stress with subsequent lipid peroxidation has been postulated as one mechanism for lead toxicity. The protective action of vitamins C against lead affects lipid hydroperoxide level and liver functions in male rats has been studied. Experiments were performed on male waster rats with body weights of 120-160 g. Male wistar rats were exposed to 3 g/l lead acetate in drinking water for 5 weeks and treated thereafter with vitamin C (500 mg/kg, orally) for 28 days. One day after the feeding was over, venous blood samples, under chloroform anesthesia, were collected. The animals were killed by exsanguinations and the liver was excise for determination the metal content and histopathological changes. Similarly, the tissue lipid (lipid peroxidation) and the enzyme fraction (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP) and...

Introduction: IMOD TM is a three-component herbal extract treated with chemical trace elements and special electromagnetic field. It is invented briefly by preparing ethanolic herbal extract from Rosa sp., Urtica dioica, and Tanacetum vulgare, adding selenium and urea and having been exposed to a pulsed electromagnetic field. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects and mechanism of IMOD TM on mice model of autoimmune diabetes induced by multiple low-dose stereptozotocine (STZ). Material and method: Male mice weighing 25-35 g were randomly divided into control and treated groups, with 8 animals in each group. Group 1 received saline. Autoimmune diabetes was induced by multiple low-dose ip injection of 40 mg/kg of STZ freshly dissolved in saline for 5 days as group 2. Group 3 received IMOD (20 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. In group 4 the STZ-treated animals received IMOD 30 min before STZ injection for 21 days. Blood sugar was measured in blood samples obtained from the tail of the mice using a glucometer. At the end of the experiment after 21 days, the pancreases of the animals were separated. In the pancreas tissue, the level of lipid peroxidation as malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant power (TAP) and the activities of interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-␣ (TNF-␣) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were evaluated. Results: There was no difference between IMOD given (20 mg/kg) and diabetic control groups in blood glucose pattern. STZ-exposed mice showed a significant increase in pancreatic MDA, MPO, IL-1 and TNF-␣ level, along with a significant decrease in TAP levels. Co-administration of IMOD significantly improved all of the mentioned parameters that are disrupted by STZ administration. Conclusion: Although IMOD could ameliorate oxidative stress induced by STZ but showed no significant effect to prevent STZ induced diabetes. Further studies are recommended to clarify the properties of IMOD on immunologic factors to address if this new agent could recruit in diabetes prevention or therapy.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the beneficial action, in vivo, of pectin against subacute lead acetate (350 mg/l) intoxication. The adverse effects of lead on the haematological disturbances that concerned, more precisely, the decrease of red blood corpuscle life duration and on the appearance of ever granulated basophilic haematites by inhibiting an enzyme responsible for haeme synthesis have been demonstrated after 1 month of oral lead administration to female Wistar rats. Also, this caused an elevation of the blood lead level as compared with the control group. The introduction of carrot pectin to a level of 3% in the feeding of intoxicated rats has shown a chelating and correcting effect on haematological disturbances caused by lead toxicity, which is reflected by a significant decrease (P<0.05) of blood lead (from 117 to 65 to 19 μg/l), zinc protoporphyrine (portophyrine-zinc from 7.7 to 5.1 to 3.5 μg/g of Hb), increase in haemoglobin to 27% (from 5.09 to 6.05 to 7.79%) and iron to 8% (from 1.34 to 0.9 to 0.5%) of the treated rats by pectin as compared with the untreated groups. Differences in blood lead were significant between the control diet and the addition of pectin therefore suggesting that pectin fibre ingestion in diets decreases the risk of lead poisoning.

Behavior of poisoning due to chemical compounds, drugs and psychoactive substances in Colombia during 2010 according to Sivigila The chemical poisoning is a public health problem. In Colombia there is little information. They conducted a retrospective longitudinal study of the behavior of the poisoning that was caused by chemical exposure and reported through the surveillance system in public health (Sivigila) in Colombia during 2010. The main events that have the highest incidence of chemical poisoning in Colombia are in descending order pesticides, drugs and other chemicals with 89.65% of the notification. The main type of exposure was intentional suicide with 44.04% of the notification, the main route of oral exposure to 72.14% of the reported cases. The age group with the highest number of reported cases was between 15 and 19 years with 22.17% of the notification. The level of education with the largest number of cases of poisoning was secondary education accounted for 47.47% of the notification. The method of confirming the poisoning was the clinic with 92.87% of the notification.

Introduction: Taxine alkaloids cause fatal poisoning, in particular due to the compound's toxic effect on the cardiovascular apparatus. Case presentation: We describe the case of a 39-year-old Caucasian man with common yew intoxication for whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation using all available methods, although delayed and extended, was successful. Conclusions: Extended and delayed cardiopulmonary resuscitation can be used successfully to treat common yew intoxication.

In this paper, the influence of chronic lead intoxication on the activity of serum enzymes aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST and ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was examined. The experiment was performed on 130 adult female DA rats and 80 young rats. Rats were treated by lead-acetate 100 and 30 mg Pb per kg body weight for 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days. Young rats (offspring of studied female rats) were treated with lead only through the placenta and mother's milk. The activities of serum AST, ALT and ALP were determined spectrophotomerically by IFCC method. The activity of examined serum enzymes was significantly increased in conditions of chronic lead intoxication in female rats and their offspring in relation to the control group. The activity of serum AST, ALT and ALP was in a positive correlation with the time of intoxication. There were no significant differences between the activities of enzymes AST and ALT in the serum and the amount of lead. The activity of ALP was significantly higher in serum of rats treated with higher amounts of lead. Increased AST, ALT and ALP activity in serum is most likely the consequence of lead hepatotoxicity.

Introduction: IMOD TM is a three-component herbal extract treated with chemical trace elements and special electromagnetic field. It is invented briefly by preparing ethanolic herbal extract from Rosa sp., Urtica dioica, and Tanacetum vulgare, adding selenium and urea and having been exposed to a pulsed electromagnetic field. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects and mechanism of IMOD TM on mice model of autoimmune diabetes induced by multiple low-dose stereptozotocine (STZ). Material and method: Male mice weighing 25-35 g were randomly divided into control and treated groups, with 8 animals in each group. Group 1 received saline. Autoimmune diabetes was induced by multiple low-dose ip injection of 40 mg/kg of STZ freshly dissolved in saline for 5 days as group 2. Group 3 received IMOD (20 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. In group 4 the STZ-treated animals received IMOD 30 min before STZ injection for 21 days. Blood sugar was measured in blood samples obtained from the tail of the mice using a glucometer. At the end of the experiment after 21 days, the pancreases of the animals were separated. In the pancreas tissue, the level of lipid peroxidation as malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant power (TAP) and the activities of interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-␣ (TNF-␣) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were evaluated. Results: There was no difference between IMOD given (20 mg/kg) and diabetic control groups in blood glucose pattern. STZ-exposed mice showed a significant increase in pancreatic MDA, MPO, IL-1 and TNF-␣ level, along with a significant decrease in TAP levels. Co-administration of IMOD significantly improved all of the mentioned parameters that are disrupted by STZ administration. Conclusion: Although IMOD could ameliorate oxidative stress induced by STZ but showed no significant effect to prevent STZ induced diabetes. Further studies are recommended to clarify the properties of IMOD on immunologic factors to address if this new agent could recruit in diabetes prevention or therapy.

This article analyzes some characteristics and conditions associated with Pb and Cd exposure using an exploratory approach, relating them to the levels of Pb and Cd in blood (blood lead levels [BLL] and blood cadmium levels [BCL]) in children 0-17 years of age living in an area contaminated by metals. BLL and BCL values were determined for each child and questionnaires were applied to their parents. Significant differences were found in mean BLL values according to race (p D .03), family history of intoxication by Pb (p D .004), if a family member was a metallurgy worker (p D .047), if a family member performed activities in the area of metallurgy (p D .03), and mother's employment status (p D .014). The following characteristics were associated with increased risk of BLL above 5.0 mg/dL in children: race, having a family record of intoxication by lead, and having a parent who worked at the plant. BLC values are not significantly associated with any of the studied characteristics. It may be concluded that BLL values are influenced by the social indicators of the population.

Background: Lead is one of the main environmental contaminants that can threaten living organisms in many ways. Lead toxicity may affect multiple organs of human body and is associated with a number of physiological, biochemical, and morphological alterations. Aims and Objective: To investigate the risk that may result from exposure to different doses of lead acetate on the body weight and the weight of different organs, hematological indices, and the functions of liver and kidney. Materials and Methods: The experiment was performed on 80 mice. They were divided into four groups. The first group represented the healthy control animals, while groups II, III, and IV were given sublethal doses of lead acetate (0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 mg/kg body weight, respectively) in drinking water for 12 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, blood was collected and used for hematological and biochemical analysis. Result: The results indicated that mice treated with lead acetate showed significant reduction in total erythrocyte count, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration compared with the healthy control ones while there were significant elevations in total leukocyte count and the amount of platelets. The results also showed significant increase in the activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase, indicating liver dysfunction. In addition, the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were also increased indicating renal deficiency. Conclusion: Treatment with lead acetate at low doses has harmful effects on experimental animals and induced hematological and biochemical alterations. Therefore, this study advises people to avoid any exposure to this toxic metal to prevent its hazardous effects on health.

Lead (Pb) is a widespread and nondegradable environmental pollutant and affects several organs through oxidative mechanisms. This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant protective effect of glycine betaine (GB) against Pb-induced renal and hepatic injury. Male albino rats (n = 45) were divided into three groups: G1 untreated control, G2 Pb-acetate (50 mg/kg/day), and G3 Pb-acetate (50 mg/kg/day) plus GB (250 mg/kg/day) administered for 6 weeks. For G3, Pb-acetate was administered first and followed by GB at least 4 h after. Pb-acetate treatment (G2) resulted in a significant decrease in renal function, including elevated creatinine and urea levels by 17.4% and 23.7%, respectively, and nonsignificant changes in serum uric acid levels. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphates (ALP) activities were significantly increased with Pb treatment by 37.6%, 59.3%, and 55.1%, respectively. Lipid peroxidation level was significan...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the beneficial action, in vivo, of pectin against subacute lead acetate (350 mg/l) intoxication. The adverse effects of lead on the haematological disturbances that concerned, more precisely, the decrease of red blood corpuscle life duration and on the appearance of ever granulated basophilic haematites by inhibiting an enzyme responsible for haeme synthesis have been demonstrated after 1 month of oral lead administration to female Wistar rats. Also, this caused an elevation of the blood lead level as compared with the control group. The introduction of carrot pectin to a level of 3% in the feeding of intoxicated rats has shown a chelating and correcting effect on haematological disturbances caused by lead toxicity, which is reflected by a significant decrease (P<0.05) of blood lead (from 117 to 65 to 19 μg/l), zinc protoporphyrine (portophyrine-zinc from 7.7 to 5.1 to 3.5 μg/g of Hb), increase in haemoglobin to 27% (from 5.09 to 6.05 to 7.79%) and iron to 8% (from 1.34 to 0.9 to 0.5%) of the treated rats by pectin as compared with the untreated groups. Differences in blood lead were significant between the control diet and the addition of pectin therefore suggesting that pectin fibre ingestion in diets decreases the risk of lead poisoning.

The lead has been explored and used since last 6000 years and the history of lead poisoning is nearly 2500 years. Symptomatic lead poisoning is the result of very high levels of lead in the tissues. It is possible that the content of lead in the body that is insufficient to cause obvious symptoms can nevertheless give rise to slowly evolving and long lasting adverse effects. It is clear that a continued rise in the pollution of the human environment with lead could eventually produce levels of exposure with adverse effects on human health. Traces of lead are almost ubiquitous in nature and minute amounts are found in normal diets. This article reviews the work done in the field of lead poisoning pertaining to sources of lead, symptoms of toxicity and effects on heme biosynthesis.

Lead poisoning is well documented in persons occupationally exposed to lead. What is less known is, that even in persons working in lead based industries, the effect of lead and the appearance of signs and symptoms of lead poisoning is genetically determined. Three genes related to lead metabolism, exhibiting polymorphism have already been demonstrated-GALA-dehydratase, Vitamin D receptor gene and Hemochromatosis gene. These alleles determine the susceptibility of the individuals to lead. We present here a case of a lead acid battery worker, who presented without any signs and symptoms of lead poisoning except for a very high level of blood lead (82.8Pg/dl and 47.5Pg/dl 9 months later)

The Blead line^was described by Henry Burton in 1840. Rodents are used as sentinels to monitor environmental pollution, but their teeth have not been used to determine lead. To determine whether lead deposits can be observed in the teeth of lead-exposed animals, since the gingival deposits known as Blead line^would likely have a correlate in the calcified tissue to which the gums are opposed during life. Male Wistar rats were exposed to lead in the drinking water (30 mg/L) since birth until 60 days-old. Molars and the incisors of each hemimandible were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on regular and backscattered electrons (BSE) mode. Elements were determined using electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Clean cervical margins were observed on control teeth, as opposed to the findings of extensive deposits on lead-exposed animals, even in hemimandibles that had been exhumed after being buried for 90 days. BSE/EDS indicated that those deposits were an exogenous material compatible with lead sulfite. Presence of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, carbon, lead, and oxygen is presented. Lead-exposed animals presented marked root resorption. The lead deposits characterized here for the first time show that the Blead line^seen in gums has a calcified tissue counterpart, that is detectable post-mortem even in animals exposed to a low dose of lead. This is likely a good method to detect undue lead exposure and will likely have wide application for pollution surveillance using sentinels.

This investigation continues our study of the effects of Pb-Cd poisoning on the heart, extending the enquiry from isometric to auxotonic contractions, thereby examining the effect on the ability of myocardial tissues to perform mechanical work. Different shifts were revealed in myocardial force-velocity relations following subchronic exposure of rats to lead acetate and cadmium chloride acting separately, in combination, or in combination with a bioprotective complex (BPC). The experiments were conducted on isolated preparations of trabecules and papillary muscles of the right ventricle in physiological loading conditions and on isolated heart muscle contractile proteins examined by the in vitro motility assay. The results of the latter correlate with the shifts in the ratio of cardiac myosin isoforms. The amount of work performed by the myocardium was calculated on the basis of the tension-shortening loop area and was found to be similar in the preparations from all experimental groups. This fact presumably reflects adaptive capacity of the myocardial function even when contractility is damaged due to the metallic intoxication of a moderate severity. Some characteristics of rat myocardium altered by the impact of lead-cadmium intoxication became fully or partly normalized if intoxication developed against background administration of a bioprotective complex (BPC). Together with previously reported results obtained in the isometric mode of contractility, all these results strengthen the scientific foundations of risk assessment and risk management projects in the occupational and environmental conditions characterized by human exposure to lead and/or cadmium.