Ameliorating Effects of Vitamin C against Acute Lead Toxicity in Albino Rabbits

3 Abstract: The present work is devoted to investigate the possible protective and ameliorating effects of the administration of Vitamin C against lead-induced toxicity. Albino rabbits were subdivided into four groups. The first was a control group, the second received lead acetate in water as (12.5 mg / kg body weight) for 15 days, the third received the same lead acetate dose and supplemented with Vitamin C (40mg / kg body weight) for 15 days and the fourth received the same lead acetate dose for 15 days, then treated with the same Vitamin C dose for another 15 days after poisoning stoppage. The adverse effects of lead on blood, retina and some tissues have been demonstrated after 15 days of oral lead administration. The electroretinogram (ERG) a-and b-wave were significantly reduced below the normal values. These retinal changes did not recover completely 15 days after ceasing of lead intake, as the b-wave amplitude was still significantly low. The ERG alterations were correlated to retinal histological changes. The results indicated that exposure of animals to lead caused a significant increase in blood and tissues lead concentration when compared with control group. A number of biophysical parameters such as magnetic susceptibility, electrical conductivity, viscosity, and super oxide dismutase activity were estimated in blood as toxicity hazards evaluation. Treatment with Vitamin C, either combined with lead or administered later seemed to offer a marked improvement of the ERG parameters, histopathological, biochemical and biophysical findings. The ERG parameters were reversed towards the normal values, retinal cytoarchitecture was much ameliorated and the changes in blood parameters were significantly alleviated. The ability of Vitamin C to reduce lead toxicity may relate to its antioxidant actions via free radical scavenging mechanism. Supplementation of diets with Vitamin C may be recommended to improve the body burden of lead.