Biochemical and histopathological alterations of liver and kidney of Japanese quails due to lead toxicity and effects of vitamin C

Lead (Pb) is the most dangerous xenobiotic causing variety of negative impacts on human and animal health. Thus, the current study intended to investigate the effect of different doses of Pb on biochemical and histological abnormalities and the beneficial effects of vitamin C in the kidney and liver of quail. A total of 72 male Japanese quails, aged 12 days were allotted in four groups with four replications. Control group (T0) received normal diet, group T1 and T2 received Pb at a dose of 70 mg and 700 mg/kg body weight (bw), respectively for 21 days, while group T3 received 700 mg Pb /kg bw for 11 days followed by only vitamin C supplementation at a dose of 70 mg/kg bw without any Pb for next 10 days. After end of treatment, blood serum was collected, and the kidney and liver were taken for a histoarchitecture study. As expected, Pb-induced significant elevations of biochemical markers of liver and kidney injury were observed in different periods of treatment (group T3 at day 21) and decreased (except creatinine) following vitamin C supplementation in group T3 at day 21. Also, Pb treatment induced congestion, necrotic foci in different organs, reactive cells in central vein, degeneration of hepatocytes, necrosis in the portal area as well as renal tubular degeneration, all of which were slightly improved by vitamin C in group T3. Therefore, the findings suggest that the use of vitamin C could be a potential preventive agent against Pb-induced toxicity.