Pathomorphological changes in lead acetate induced toxicity in Wistar rats

The present study was carried out to evaluate the pathomorphological changes in various organs of 48 Wistar rats administered with lead acetate @ 250, 500 and 1000 ppm, respectively in drinking water in groups II, III and IV for 8 weeks while group I rats were served as control. Six randomly selected rats from each group were sacrificed at 4 and 8 weeks post exposure. The lesions were characterized by degeneration, necrosis, cellular and vascular changes. The main target organs affected were kidney, liver, heart, spleen and brain. The overall lesions gave impression that lead is hepatotoxic as well as nephrotoxic in nature. The intensity and distribution of such lesions were found more severe in rats of group IV followed by group III and II rats in dose and duration dependent manner while control group rats revealed normal appearance of these organs at all intervals.