Preventive action of zinc against lead toxicity

The study was aimed to assess the protective efficacy of zinc against hemo and hematotoxicity induced by lead. Two groups of 8 rats each, were administered lead acetate 20 mg/kg bw (ip) for 3 days. One group in addition was injected 5 mg/kg bw (ip) zinc acetate for next three days. A third group of 8 rats was given three injections of normal saline and served as control. All the animals were sacrificed on eighth day and assessed for hematological changes, heme synthesizing pathway enzymes, hepatic drug metabolizing status and sulfhydryl levels in blood and liver. Lead administration resulted in decreased hemoglobin, increased reticulocytosis, depression of delta aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) and uroporphyrinogen I synthetase (UPS) activity in blood and liver. In vitro metabolism of drugs aminopyrine, aniline and p-nitroanisole by liver homogenate and in vivo metabolism of pentabarbitone was also reduced in lead exposed rate. Zinc treated rats showed improved hematological profile and activated ALAD and UPS activity, recovery of N-demethylation of aminopyrine and O-demethylation of p-nitroanisole and partial restoration of free thiol levels in blood and liver thereby indicating that zinc could confer protection against lead toxicity.