Effects of chronic lead acetate exposure on bone marrow lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in rats

Occupational and environmental exposure of lead (Pb) is a serious health problem in developing and industrialized countries around the world. Toxic effect of lead is closely related to its accumulation in important tissues after its absorption into the blood. Present study looked into the effect of lead toxicity on bone marrow oxidative biomarkers in Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were divided into four groups and in three experimental groups, they were given lead acetate in drinking water for 21 days in three different doses (200, 400 and 600 ppm). Effect of lead acetate on bone marrow lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes were examined. Lead exposure for 21 days resulted in a significant increase (P<0.05) in lipid hydroperoxides and protein carbonyl contents of bone marrow and there was significant decrease (P<0.05) in bone marrow total antioxidants and superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase enzyme levels. More significant increase (P<0.05) in lipid peroxidation and a decrease in antioxidant enzymes level were recorded with 600 ppm dose of lead. There was also a significant level of perturbations (P<0.05) in bone marrow antioxidant enzyme levels with low level of lead exposure for 21 days. Thus, the study confirms that exposure to lead will result in significant amount of toxic effect in the bone marrow, resulting in increased lipid peroxidation and depletion of antioxidant enzymes.