EFFECTS OF SUBACUTE TREATMENT WITH LEAD ACETATE ON THE MINERAL CONSTITUENTS FROM FEMUR AND TIBIA

Lead acetate was administered in Wistar rats, by intra-gastric tube, for 7 days, in doses of 10 mg/100g body weight, daily. The effects were monitored after 7 days of treatment and after 7 days post therapeutic pause. A group of animals, which were administered water by the same route, served as stress controls. The animals were sacrificed and were taken femur and tibia. There were intensive positive modifications in the weight and sizes of the investigated bones, tibia and femur, after the 7 days of treatment, which persisted after the end of the therapy. Persistent changes were observed in the mineral composition of the bones, even after the treatment ended. Bone lead deposits (femur, tibia) influence the weight and the length of these, supporting the metabolic disorders encountered at this level. Presence of lead in the bones alters the mineralization processes, confirmed by our data, indicating high levels of all minerals in this tissue compared to the controls.