INTERACTION BETWEEN LEAD TOXICITY AND SOME SULFONAMIDES IN RABBITS - EFFECT ON CERTAIN BLOOD-CONSTITUENTS AND SERUM ENZYMES

Two main equal groups of clinically healthy, non pregnant rabbits were classified into 4 subgroups (5 rabbits each). The 1 st and 2nd subgro ups were treated with sulphaquinoxaline or sulphadiazine in a single o ral dose of 1 00 mg/kg b. wt., while the 3rd and 4th subgroups receive d a repeated oral dose of 100 mg/kg b. wt., daily for 5 successive day s, respectively. The second main group received lead acetate in a dose of 4.2 mg/kg b. wt. per day for 2 months, then was classified as in c ase of the lst main group and administered the respective sulphonamide s in their recommended doses. The experimental lead intoxication was f ound to decrease the free delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (delta -ALA-D) activity in blood of lead intoxicated rabbits after 4 and 8 we eks. Also, the ratio of free and with glutathione reactivated delta-AL A-D was increased 2.9 and 2.2 after 4 and 8 weeks, respectively as com pared with before lead administration (1.1 9), indicating toxicity. Th e sulphonamide/creatinine ratio was increased after administration of both sulphonamides but higher in lead intoxicated rabbits as compared with healthy ones. The AST/ALT ratio was decreased 4 and 8 weeks after lead exposure. The AST, ALT and AST/ALT ratio, alkaline phosphatase, urea and creatinine were not altered in healthy rabbits. Repeated oral administration of sulphadiazine caused a significant increase in seru m AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase and creatinine level in healthy and l ead intoxicated rabbits. On the other hand, AST/ALT ratio in both heal thy and lead intoxicated rabbits was found to decrease 1 h after the l ast dose as compared with before treatment.