ALTERATIONS IN DEVELOPING RBCs AFTER PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL EXPOSURE TO LEAD ACETATE AND VITAMINS

Purpose: The current investigation was carried out to study the hematopathological changes in the developing red blood cells of neonate of Swiss albino mice exposed with lead acetate and vitamins.

Methods: Lead acetate was administered orally at 8, 16, 32 mg /kg/BW to selected pregnant females from 10th day of gestation to 21^st day of lactation. Vitamin C (166 mg/kg BW) and vitamin E (133mg/kg BW) individually and in combination with lead were also administered from 10^th day during the same period. Hematopathological alterations in the RBCs were examined in neonates after birth at postnatal days 1, 7, 14 and 21.

Results: The examination of blood smears demonstrated that lead exposure during gestation and lactation led to various hematological disorders in red blood cells of neonates and abnormal types of RBCs like schistocytes, stomatocytes, codocytes, echinocytes with prominent hypochromasia, anisocytosis, macrocytosis etc. were also noticeable. The antioxidants vitamin C and E also induced structural abnormalities independently and also with co-administration of lead in developing RBCs in forms of dacrocytes, elliptocytes and other atypical forms.

Conclusion: Lead may interfere in heme biosynthesis apparently characterized by several enzyme blockades and exerts the negative effect on hematopoietic system and give rise to abnormal blood cells. This study clearly demonstrates that gestational and lactational exposure to lead is extremely hazardous in causing alterations in the neonatal peripheral red blood cells. Vitamins supplementation also induces negative influence during this highly susceptible period.