COMBINED ACTION OF LEAD AND LITHIUM ON ESSENTIAL AND NONESSENTIAL ELEMENTS IN RAT-BLOOD

The effects of lead and lithium ingestion, separately and in combinati on, on the levels of K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, and As in rat blood were s tudied by the Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence technique. Two diff erent doses of lead acetate, i.e., 50 and 100 mg/Kg body wt (low and h igh doses), were administered orally to rats, daily, for 1 anti 4 mont hs (short and long terms), whereas lithium in the form of lithium carb onate was given to rats in food (1.1 g/kg diet) for 1 and 4 mo separat ely, and also to rats receiving lower and higher doses of lead. K leve ls were found to be depressed significantly with lead treatment, where as Fe contents were enhanced marginally after 1 mo of treatment when o nly the higher dose of lead was given. As, Br, and Rb contents were fo und to be elevated following lead treatment for short and long terms a t both the dose levels. However, Cu contents were lowered, whereas Zn contents were raised only after long term treatment with lead. The Fe, Cu, As, and Br contents remained unaltered, whereas K, Rb, and Zn con tents were reduced significantly when lithium was administered for sho rt term. Moreover, Cu and Fe levels were also found to be reduced and Br contents were enhanced only after long term treatment. During the c ombined treatment with lead and lithium for short and long terms, the levels of K, Az, and Rb were observed to decrease, whereas Fe contents were enhanced when estimated for both doses of lead. On the contrary, Cu levels were lowered only with the higher dose of lead acetate when given in combination with Lithium for 1 and 4 mo. Br contents were on ly effectively decreased after 4 mo of treatment.