Effects of exposure to lead on the peripheral motor system of the rat. An ultrastructural study.

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.