A Histological and Histochemical Study of the Cerebral Cortex Following Acute Lead Poisoning in Wistar Rats

NWAKANMA A.A¹, IDAGUKO A.², NWOZOR C.M³, OFOEGO U.C¹, OKAFOR I.J¹, IBEMENUGA E¹.

¹Anatomy Department, Anambra State University, Uli Campus, Uli Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

²Anatomy Department, Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers State, Nigeria. 

³Physiology Department, Anambra State University, Uli Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

 E-mail: corneliusnwozor@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The effect of acute lead poisoning on the cerebral cortex of wistar rat was investigated. Twenty adult wistar rats weighing 200-220g were randomly divided into four groups designated A, B, C and D with five rats in each group. Group A served as control and received food and water ad libitum throughout the experimental period. Groups B, C and D were given food and water contaminated with 100ppm, 1000ppm and 5000ppm of lead acetate respectively ad libitum for 21days. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed using chloroform anesthesia. The whole brains were fixed in formol saline; cerebral cortex was then dissected and processed for routine H and E staining and Nissl substance using cresyl fast violet method. Results showed dose dependent weight loss (P<0.05). Histologically, the cerebral cortex of group B rats showed hypertrophied cells, group C showed vacuolations around cells with few cells at various stages of cell death while group D showed hypertrophied cells with many cells at various stages of cell death. There was also dose dependent chromatolysis in the treatment groups stained for Nissl substance when compared with the control. These results revealed that the toxic effect of lead exposure is dose dependent.