The interactions of copper, lead and ethanol in rats: effects on some biochemical parameters of blood

The aim of this paper was to investigate the action of copper on some biochemical parameters of blood of Wistar rats exposed to a combined action of lead and ethanol. The animals received lead in drinking water (500 micrograms/ml) for 6 weeks, followed by copper (12 micrograms/ml) for 2 weeks. During the last 108 h of the experiments the rats received every 12 h an intragastric dose of 5g/kg of ethanol. In rats receiving copper together with ethanol the blood levels of copper, iron and lead were higher than in the rats receiving copper alone, the total and latent iron binding capacity were depressed, the transferrin saturation with iron was increased and the ceruloplasmin content--decreased. Copper protected rats against the action of lead on the following hematologic parameters: hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, iron concentration, total and latent iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation index, copper concentration and ceruloplasmin activity. Ethanol administration counteracts the protective effect of copper on iron concentration, total and latent iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation index and ceruloplasmin serum content.