US EPA

786616 

Journal Article 

Lead hepatotoxicology: A study in an animal model 

Sá, I; da Costa, MJP; Cunha, EM 

2012 

1 

Toxicology and Industrial Health
ISSN: 0748-2337
EISSN: 1477-0393 

SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC 

THOUSAND OAKS 

28 

2 

108-113 

English 

21665903 

10.1177/0748233711407240 

WOS:000300222800002 

The increasing use of lead (Pb) for industrial purposes has resulted in the significant increase in environmental contamination of our planet especially in concern to water and food. In this study using the electron scanning microscopy (SEM), the authors showed the effects of this metal as a result of a chronic and cumulative process. As a primary method of detection of Pb in situ, SEM was chosen, coupled with a detection system Noran Voyager of basic microanalysis X-ray (SEM-XRM), with detection system energy dispersive spectrometry. Mice BALB/c was used as a study model. An animal model of inflammation was used, that consisted in the formation of a subcutaneous pocket of air. It was observed that 75% of Pb stock was captured by the liver, the main target organ in the capture of the metal, the kidney was the second organ to capture the Pb stock and the third was the spleen. It was verified that a low deposition of Pb was found in the lungs and the brain. The main results of this study showed how Pb is captured by different organs. We also demonstrated the vulnerability to inflammation of this metal. 

Lead; liver; synergistic effect; SEM-XRM; inflammation