Toxicología ambiental y analítica

Impact of Simultaneous Exposure to Lead and Efavirenz on Some Biochemical Markers in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Alain K. Aïssi, Lauris Fah, Casimir D. Akpovi, Jean Robert Klotoé, Victorien T. Dougnon, Patient Guédénon, Patrick A. Edorh and Frédéric Loko

Chronic exposure to heavy metals including lead remains a serious problem for humanity. The current study aims to evaluate the impact of co-exposure to lead (Pb) and Efavirenz (EFV) on some biochemical parameters in blood. Twenty eight Wistar rats were divided equally into four groups respectively orally fed with lead acetate at 10 mg/kg (GPb), EFV at 20 mg/kg (GEfv), both xenobiotics (GPb+Efv), and distilled water (GCtrl). On Day 0 and Day 28, the blood of each animal was collected and biochemical assays were conducted. Data were processed with SPSS 16.0. The results showed a significant decrease in total proteinemia, albuminemia, serum calcium and iron as well as a significant increase in blood urea and uric acid in group exposed to lead. The aforementioned changes were more pronounced in group GPb+Efv. Besides, significant increases in total cholesterolemia were observed in GEfv and GPb+Efv. In contrast, changes in blood glucose and triglycerides were not significant. In conclusion, this study highlights a real problem of public health, in the light of thousands of patients receiving antiretroviral therapy and who are unintentionally exposed to heavy metals.