Investigation on Subchronic Lead Intoxication on Blood Indices of Male Rats

Lead is an environmental contaminant that affect eveiy living organism. The present study investigated the haematological changes following intraperitoneal administration of varying doses of lead acetate in adult male rats for a period of fourteen days. Blood lead concentrations, haemato logical analyses and differential blood cell counts were investigated. At the end of fourteen days of lead acetate administration, there was significant increase (p<0.05) in blood lead concentration, this was accompanied with decreased packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count. In addition there was leukocytosis, monocytosis and neutrophilia which were prominent at higher dosage of lead acetate administration. It was concluded that the anaemia indued by lead was microcytic hypochromic.