Lead Induced Alterations in Blood Cell Counts and Hemoglobin during Gestation and Lactation in Swiss Albino Mice

BARBER I., SHARMA*, R., MOGRA, S., PANWAR, K., and GARU, U.
*

Environmental and Developmental Toxicology Research Lab, Department of Zoology, M. L. S. University, Udaipur- 313001 Rajasthan (INDIA)

This study of Barber, Sharma, Mogra, Panwar, and Garu aimed to determine the level of the lead intoxication among the Swiss albino mice during pregnancy and lactation. The changes in Red Blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hgb) and White Blood cells (WBC) during gestation and lactation were also evaluated. In the methodology, random bred mice were closely observed in a controlled environment in the lab. Recently mated sexually mature mice were isolated and monitored. The pregnant mice were divided into 4 groups. One group is the control while the three groups were each exposed to three different levels of dosages of lead acetate from the tenth day of gestation up to the 21st day of lactation. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd group were exposed orally to lead acetate with 266.66 mg/kg BW, 533.33 mg/kg BW and 1066.66 mg/kg BW, respectively. The hemoglobin, RBS and WBS counts of the female Swiss mice were recorded on th 17th day of pregnancy and on the 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st days of lactation. The statistical analysis used was analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the comparison of data between different experimental groups. The result showed that the introduction of lead acetate during gestation and lactation period of mice has caused significant decrease in the RBC and Hemoglobin of the mice as compared to the control. On the other hand, the WBC count has decreased during gestation but has increased during the lactation period. As a result, the researchers concluded that lead has adverse effects on the hemoglobin and blood cell counts. Dose-dependent decrease in the RBC and hemoglobin was observed in the lead acetate-exposed mice. In contrast, WBC count has shown increase in number. Attached to this was the complete journal article by the authors. The paper did not present any new discoveries since there were several preliminary and similar researches (see references of the journal article) regarding the effects of lead exposure the RBC, Hgb, and WBC counts. However, the result of the study paralleled with other studies, as claimed by the authors, and did contribute to the strengthening of the results of the preliminary studies. Moreover, the result was also significant because lead-induced haematological changes are not well established.

Nathaniel Antonio 2010-62508 nathanielantonio69@gmail.com

Submitted to: Prof. Liezel Magtoto lzel_m@yahoo.com

Several authors- Robinsons, Agnel, Paprika and Sharmas (See journal article references) specified that the influence of toxic materials affects first the molecular before the biochemical level. This is one of the bases of this study to assess the toxic effects of lead by studying the peripheral blood i.e. the hemoglobin and red blood cells, as haematological parameters. It was not thoroughly discussed in the article the reason of the decline of RBC during the introduction of the lead acetate nonetheless, one explanations presented by the authors is that the lead causes damage to the cell membrane making it fragile. To further reiterate this explanation, when lead is absorbed in the blood stream, it binds with the hemoglobin in the erythrocytes. The lead was then stored in the red blood cells because RBC serves as depository of the heavy metal as discussed by Bnfalvi, 2011. This produces some disturbances in erythrocyte metabolism such as NA, K-ATPase, deltaaminolevulinic acid dehydratase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide synthetase activity. This leads to the decreased hemoglobin synthese and decreased life-span of erythrocytes. Another explanation was that the lead administered caused decrease in hemoglobin production that was coupled with increased erythrocyte destruction caused by the inhibition of the pyrimidine 5-nucloetidase in the erythrocyte membrane stability and survival by alteration of cellular energy. This often results to a hypochromic, normocytic anemia. Lead is a highly toxic material that is abundant in the earths crust. It has a low cost and has physical properties that are suitable in wide variety of usage. This indicates that many people are prone to exposure in a daily basis. Recently, they just found out that cosmetic products specially lipsticks have small amount of lead in them. Many kids toys were also found out to have lead in them, especially those that were cheap. This shows that people are exposed to lead without them knowing. One of the main purposes of this study as stated in the summary was to assess the effect of lead, which is a heavy metal to the cellular components of blood, RBC, Hgb, and RBC. The conclusion was relevant because it offers further studies on the effects of other heavy metals. Such possible further studies that can be considered is the phenomenon of mine tailing spills. The Philex Mining Corporation, located in Benguet Province, is operating one of the

Nathaniel Antonio 2010-62508 nathanielantonio69@gmail.com

Submitted to: Prof. Liezel Magtoto lzel_m@yahoo.com

largest mines in the country, the Pacdal Mine. The mining corp has been digging the earths crust for copper and gold since 1958. Recently, there was a leakage of the mines tailings in Balog creek that caused the creek and its river system to be biologically dead. There were no signs of any form of life in the river, said Feny Cosico, agriculturalist and spokesperson for Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Sambayanan (Agham). According to her, high concentrations of toxic substances were found there including heavy metals and flotation reagents that are toxic to plants and animals. This phenomenon did not only affect the ecology of the area where the mine sediments are leaked but might have also affected the biotic and abiotic components in the downstream. This study therefore can be tested in the affected area to assess if the same procedure is applicable in the same situation. If the result is positive, then the methodology can be used to assess the extent of damage of the spilling incident. It can be further tested on humans if there were gestating or lactating mothers in the area or near it. However, this doesnt implicate that this can replace standard procedures in heavy metal intoxication tests. In the analysis, the authors should have included an appendix of the raw data that were gathered. Since it is a scientific experiment, readers that have foundational knowledge of statistics might actually re-analyse the data to check the validity of the statistical claims of the authors. They should also have increased the number of individual mice that they studied. Six samples per group are just enough but a larger sample would be better because it should theoretically yield a more accurate conclusion of the group being samples. Smaller samples usually have higher chances to commit errors in representing a group. If one group is not correctly represented, then the conclusion of the study will also be incorrect. Conclusively, my last recommendation is for further studies to use the result of this study as background information for the evaluation of reproductive toxicity induced by lead during gestation and lactation. Moreover, since the sample organisms were studied during their lactation and gestation period, other similar studies might as well include the babies in studying the haematological effects of the lead exposure.

Nathaniel Antonio 2010-62508 nathanielantonio69@gmail.com

Submitted to: Prof. Liezel Magtoto lzel_m@yahoo.com

References Bnfalvi, G. (2011). Cellular Effects of Heavy Metals. Berlin: Springer Science+ Business Media. Dinglasan, R.R., (2012, October 31). After Philex mine spill, a world of gray. GMA News. Retrieved From: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/280312/news/specialreports/after-

philex-mine-spill-a-world-of-gray Ordinario, c. (2012, September 2). After another mine spill, Philex eyes replacing Benguet facility. Rappler News. Retrieved from: http://www.rappler.com/business/special-

report/whymining/whymining-latest-stories/11610-philex-may-replace-tailings-pond-in-itogon,benguet Paglia DE, Valentine WN and Fink K. Lead poisoning. Further observations on erythrocyte pyrimidine-nucleotidase deficiency and intracellular accumulation of pyrimidine J Clin Invest. 60:1362-1366, 1977. nucleotides.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/complete-blood-count-cbc Last Retrieved: February 28, 2012 http://www.oncolink.org/treatment/article1.cfm?c=145&id=60 Last Retrieved: February 28, 2012 http://www.philexmining.com.ph/about-us/our-projects/padcal Last Retrieved: February 28, 2012

Nathaniel Antonio 2010-62508 nathanielantonio69@gmail.com

Submitted to: Prof. Liezel Magtoto lzel_m@yahoo.com