HISTOCHEMICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF LEAD ON LIVER AND KIDNEY OF DOG

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 58  (1) , 101-112
Abstract
In a series of 3 experiments, beagle dogs were dosed orally with lead carbonate and the histochemical and histological changes in the liver and kidney assessed. Dosing at 50 mg/kg per day for 5 wk resulted in well documented histological changes in the kidney and hydropic degeneration in the liver; significant alterations in the activity of the majority of enzymes studied were also seen in both organs. In dogs dosed for 1 wk at 50 or 100 mg/kg no histological changes were seen and histochemical alterations were mainly confined to the dehydrogenases and NADPH diaphorase. A 3rd group of dogs was dosed for 3 wk; during a subsequent recovery period of almost 2 mo. the mild clinical effects produced by Pb during the dosing period were quickly reversible except in 2 dogs. At the end of the recovery period histochemical alterations were evident in both organs of these 2 dogs principally shown by a reduction in the liver dehydrogenases. The findings are interpreted as an effect by Pb on a range of cellular enzymes particularly those involved in energy production; these effects are still demonstrable after an extended recovery period.