VARIATIONS IN RAT BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS AFTER BUCKSHOT IMPLANT

Twenty eight albino Wistar rats were implanted with two 100 mg lead sp heres: 14 received the implant in the peritoneum (P) and 14 in the thi gh (T). Variations in the activity of delta-aminolevulinic dehydratase (ALAD), of urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALAU), of hematoporphyr ins (HP) and of lead blood levels (BPb) were then determined at 30, 60 and 90 days with respect to basal values. Parallel determinations wer e performed by the same schedule in 7 rats implanted with two glass be ads and in 8 sham animals receiving surgical incision alone. Technique s employed for ALAD were Berlin and Schaller; for ALAU, Tomokuni and O gata; for HP, Piomelli; and for BPb, atomic absorption spectrophotomet ry. As indicators of lead presence, HP and ALAU proved better, both in P and in T rats. The replacement of lead buckshot for small game hunt ing by other less toxic elements is recommended. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sci ence S.A. All rights reserved.