Chronic Administration of Lead Acetate Altered the Histology of the Cerebellum of Wistar Rats

Lead acetate is one of many compounds of lead. This study examined the effects chronic administration of lead acetate on the histology of the cerebellum. Twenty (20) adult Wistar rats of both sexes of weight ranging between 100 g – 150 g were used for the experiment. The animals were kept in the animal house and randomized into four groups: A, B and C served as the experimental groups while D served as the control group. The animals received rat chow and distilled water ad libitum. Groups A, B, and C received in addition to their distilled water and feed, a solution containing 30 g of lead acetate readily dissolved in 1litre of distilled water via oral administration at different doses of 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and 1200 mg/kg per body weight for 21 days respectively. On day 22 of the experiment, the animals were euthanized with ketamine hydrochloride and sacrificed by the cervical dislocation method. The cerebellum was carefully harvested and fixed in 10% formol calcium and routine tissue processing performed. Lead acetate administration significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the body weight of the animals and also induced histological alterations in the cell bodies of the Purkinje cells of the cerebellar cortex of the experimental groups relative to the control group.

Key Words: Lead acetate, Cerebellar cortex, Purkinje cells, Body weight, Wistar rats.