Alteraciones hepáticas y renales en neonatos de rata producidas por la exposición prenatal y durante la fase inicial de la lactancia a plomo y/o cadmio

Resum

Lead acetate (300 mg/L), cadmium acetate (10 mg/L) or both compounds were administered to pregnant Wistar rats from day 1 of pregnancy to delivery (0 pp) or day 5 pp to investigate the possibility of toxicological interactions between lead and cadmium. Pups were sacrificed, and blood collected to determine the haemoglobin concentration. Liver and kidney were used to determine the content of nucleic acids, proteins, glycogen and lipid concentration. Some kidneys from Pb- and Cd-exposed groups were used for histology, and the high and diameter of the proximal convoluted tubules were measured. The current results suggest that prenatal and early lactational exposure to lead and/or cadmium produce alterations in several metabolic activities, such as a decrease in fetal haemoglobin synthesis (Pb-treated group), in glycogen metabolism and in protein metabolism with both elements and a decrease in lipid metabolism depending on the organ. The results of the present study show that administration of both metals protect against the toxicity produced by the treatment of Cd or Pb separately, suggesting a possible antagonism between both xenobiotics.