Protective effects of vitamin E on peripheral nerve function of rabbits exposed to lead

  Objective   To study the effects of Vitamin E(VE)on the lipid peroxidation and Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV)of rabbits exposed to lead(Pb).

  Methods   24 rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups(Pb group(Ⅰ), Pb+VE group(Ⅱ)and control group).Ⅰ and Ⅱ group rabbits drank water of 0.1% lead acetate freely for 8 weeks, Ⅱgroup rabbits were still given 2 mg/kg VE ih, 2 times a week.Control group rabbits drank no Pb water and had no VE treatment.At the end of the experiment, the thigh NCV, Malondialdehyde(MDA)and Tota-l Superox ide Dismutase(T-SOD)in plasma and brain were mearsued.

  Results   The NCV of Ⅰ group were sig nificantly decr eased(P < 0.01)than those of the control andⅡ groups.There were significantly negative correlation between NCV and plasma or brain SOD(r values: -0.408, -0.464, P < 0.05), but the differences of SODor MDA among the groups were still insignificant in statistically.

  Conclusion   Lead poisoning can decrease NCV, which has a relationship with the level of lipid perox idation.The effects of lipid perox idation may be the mechanism of peripheral neur opathy induced by lead poisoning.VE can alleviate the har mful effects of lead by its anti-oxidation and impr oving the function of peripher al nerves.