Jejunum and liver are most susceptible to single dose of lead chloride in rats

The i.p. administration of a single dose (10 kg) of lead chloride (PbClJ to male adult rats significantly decreased (P < 0.05) liver ight after 72 h. Lead significantly increaT sed the concentration of total thiols (ToThi) in duodenum and jejunum as well as that of non-protein thiols (NpThi) in jejunum 30 mih after its administration. However, as early as 10 min after administration, lead significantly decreased the activities of the following: a) y-glutamyl transpeptidase (GTP) in liver (60 2 7%), kidneys (26 +- 4%) and jejunum (61 +- 6%); b) alanylaminopeptidase (AAP) in kidneys (27 2 5%) and jejunum (64 2 5%); c) carboxylesterases/amidases (CE/A) in liver (32 ? 3%) and jejunum (47 2 5%); d) glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in liver (49 2 3%), kidneys (51 2 5%) and jejunum (54 2 3%); and d) butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in jejunum (67 + 4%). Some of lead's effects on the enzymes studied were not detected after 30 min but reappeared 24 and 72 h after lead administration. When taken together, these results indicate that jejunum and liver are the organs in adult rats most susceptible to a single, low dose of PbC1, when it is i.p. administered.