Effect of Lead on the Blood Serum,Liver and Brain Sialoglycoconjugate Levels in Rats

Abstract

Rats were exposed to an acute dose of lead (Pb) to study the effect of Pb intoxication on different sialoglycoconjugates in serum, brain and liver. Serum levels of total sialic acid (TSA), perchloric acid (PCA)-soluble sialic acid (PSA), lipid-bound sialic acid (LBSA), free sialic acid (FSA) and α₁-acid glycoprotein (α₁-AG) were determined. They were also estimated in brain and liver tissues, except for LBSA and FSA. All these constituents were found to be significantly raised in the serum but not in the brain. In the case of the liver, only α₁-AG levels were found to be increased significantly, the rest were not altered. The levels of these sialoglycoconjugates in serum might be useful as biomarkers of heavy metal toxicity.

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