DNA damage and changes of antioxidative enzymes in acetate lead poisoned mice

  Objective   To study the damage effect of lead acetate on DNA and its mechanism and the changes of antioxidative enzymes in vivo.

  Methods   DNA break in liver cell of mice exposed to lead acetate by inhalation at different concentrations for 6 weeks were analyzed with single cell gel electrophoresis(SCGE).Meanwhile, chromatosome damage of bone marrow cell were analyzed with micronucleus test, the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione-Px(GSH-Px)in blood and the level of Hb in blood, glutathione(GSH)in liver were detected.

  Results   At the concentration of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, lead acetate could induce DNA damage of liver cells and chromatosome damage of bone marrow cell.Both results showed the obvious dose-response relationship between the level of the genetic materials damage and the doses of lead acetate.Both the activity of SOD, GSH-Px in blood and the level of Hb in blood, GSH in liver were decreased in lead acetate poisoned mice.

  Conclusion   Lead acetate poisoning may result in not only DNA damage in liver cells and chromatosome damage in bone marrow cell, but also decrease in activity of antioxidative enzymes.