PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Badawoud, Mohammed H.
AU  - Hassan, Sherif M.
TI  - Effects of exposure to lead on the peripheral motor system of the rat. An ultrastructural study
DP  - 2013 Jan 01
TA  - Neurosciences Journal
PG  - 52--57
VI  - 18
IP  - 1
4099  - http://nsj.org.sa/content/18/1/52.short
4100  - http://nsj.org.sa/content/18/1/52.full
SO  - Neurosciences (Riyadh)2013 Jan 01; 18
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the morphological changes in the peripheral motor system of the rat induced by exposure to lead.METHODS: This study was conducted at the Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from January 2011 to January 2012. Female adult albino rats (n=10) were given lead acetate in their drinking water (500mg/L) for a period of 30 days. Female adult albino rats (n=5) were used as control. The soleus and gastrocnemius muscles were dissected and processed for electron microscopy.RESULTS: Lead administration induced morphological changes in all constituents of the peripheral motor system of the rat, including; extension of long processes by Schwann cells, engorgement of nerve terminals, withdrawal of some terminals, and muscle fiber alterations.CONCLUSION: Lead toxicity is detrimental to all constituents of the peripheral motor system of the rat. The histopathological changes explain some of the clinical manifestations of lead toxicity.