Effects of dietary lead and cholesterol supplementation on hemolysis in the Sprague-Dawley rat

Hemolytic anemia has been observed in a number of organisms exposed to lead . Previous investigators have proposed that heavy metals inhibit cholestero l synthesis, which leaves insufficient cholesterol for the maintenance of c ell membranes. This causes hemolysis and the release of hemoglobin and memb rane associated proteins into the serum. Lead-exposed fish have displayed d epressed serum cholesterol and elevated serum protein concentrations, The g oals of the present investigation were to determine whether these hematolog ical changes occur in mammals exposed to dietary lead and to test the hypot hesis that lead induces a cholesterol deficiency responsible for this hemol ytic effect, Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: an untreated control (group I), a group fed a 4% cholesterol supplemented d iet (group II), a group exposed to lead nitrate via the drinking water (250 mg lead/liter) (group III), and a group given both lead nitrate and choles terol (group TV). Blood samples were collected weekly for five weeks. Mean hematocrit, mean serum hemoglobin, and mean serum cholesterol concentration s were not significantly different (p >0.05) in lead exposed animals. These results indicate that dietary lead exposure does not induce a cholesterol deficiency and subsequent hemolysis in the Sprague-Dawley rat.