Developmental effects of prenatal exposure to lead acetate on ovary in Wistar rats offspring

Introduction: Over the past decades, environmental pollution with lead acetate has been a major concern for human beings by human activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lead acetate consumption during pregnancy on 90-day-old neonatal rats.Method: Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental groups received 100 and 300 mg / L of lead acetate during pregnancy via drinking water. After weighing the rats, the ovaries of offsprings were removed from their bodies at 90 days and stabilized in Bouin’s solution. Following tissue processing, 5 micron serial sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Then the numbers of ovarian follicles and corpora lutea were evaluated.Result: Microscopic studies indicated a dose-dependent reduction in the number of primary, secondary and antral follicles in 300 mg / L dose group at 90 days of age (p <0.05). There was significant decrease in mean number of corpora lutea in 300 (p<0.01) mg/L doses groups at 90 days offsprings. Conclusion:It seems that lead consumption during pregnancy has adverse effects on follicular development in ovary of offspring and reduces reproductive efficacy of Wistar rats offspring at puberty.

Keywords:

Ovarian follicles , pregnancy , fertility , lead acetate