[Stereologic analysis of mammary glands in primiparous rats with lead poisoning]

The mammary glands of primigravid Wistar rats were investigated by stereological analysis in conditions of lead acetate administration via drinking water. The experiment was made in early summer period when absorbing ability of rat intestinum for lead is highest. Morphological state of glands was observed on 7th, 14th and 21st day of pregnancy. Groups of control animals were drinking deionized water but groups of experimental animals were drinking deionized water with added lead acetate. On paraffin sections coloured by HE method, volume density (VV) of glands structural elements were determined by multipurpose test system M42. Stereological analysis shows that lead diminishes the proliferative capacity of the mammary parenchyma and changes the morphofunctional differentiation of the overall structure in mammary gland during pregnancy. At the same time lead modifies quantitative trait of the mammary gland, i.e. the composition of the volume units in organ, without changing intramammary syncornization between the epithelium and lipocytes.