Effect of Lead Acetate Toxicity on Experimental Chick Embryo

Abstract

Heavy metals are natural components of the Earth's crust and are important environmental pollutants which are mostly toxic even at very low concentrations. Lead is a common industrial and environment pollutant which is carcinogenic in animals. This study was conducted to understand the toxic effects of lead acetate on antioxidant enzymes and its bioaccumulation in liver and brain using a chick embryo as model. Chick embryos were divided into three groups, first group represented the healthy control and remaining two groups were injected as single dose of 20?l and 40?l/egg of lead acetate respectively, on 7th day of incubation with 1mg. concentration of lead acetate. On 11th and 14th day of incubation, control and treated chick embryos were sacrificed to collect liver and brain for biochemical assays. Different doses of lead acetate caused an increase or decrease of the activity of all investigated Enzymes, with a variable values, at almost all developmental stages. The lead that entered into the body is accumulated in organs and modifies the function of organ by changing the structure of cells of organs biochemical modifications in cells and functional variations of many of enzymes. Results of the present study clearly suggest that lead acetate induce toxic effects on the chick embryo.