HISTOLOGICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDIES OF KIDNEY, LIVER AND TESTIS OF LEAD INTOXICATED ALBINO RATS

Abstract

The present study aims at studying the effect of lead nitt•ate on the histology and ultrastructure of the kidney, liver t1o and testis of albino rats. Also, the present study aims at studying the possible curing effect of crushed seeds of Nigella sativa (100 mg/kg/body weight) on lead intoxicated albino rats.

Adult male albino rats were divided into four groups, first group (control group), in second group, rats given 8.965 mg/kg/body weight lead nitrate for four months and followed by I 00 mg/kg/body weight of Nigella sativa for two months after stopping last dose of lead nitrate. Third group, rats given 22.4 mg/ kg/body weight of lead nitrate and followed by Nigella sativa treatment. The fourth group, rats given 56 mg /kg/body weight of lead nitrate for four months and followed by Nigella sativa treatment.

It is concluded that heavy exposure to lead may be associated with significantly histopathological changes in the liver, kidney and testes of rats. Treatment of Nigella sativa after stopping lead administration produced a protection against these lead toxic effects. This protection is partially on the liver and kidney and almost complete on the testes and this explains the importance of Nigella s fiva as a natural antioxidant.