Abstract
This study was performed to investigate lead(Pb) detoxification with different dietary protein levels and detoxifying periods in Pb poisoned rats. Forty nine male rats of Sprague-Dawley strain weighing 114$\pm$4g were used and they were fed 1% Pb-15% casein diet ad libitum for 2 weeks. After sacrifying 7 animals as control group, remaining forty two rats were blocked into 6 groups according to body weight. Three groups were fed each detoxifying diet(5%, 15% or 40% casein diet without Pb) for 1 week and the other 3 groups were fed same diets for 3 weeks. The results obtained were summerized as follows ; 1) Liver and kidney weight, bone weight, and bone length were increased with increasing dietary protein level and detoxifying period. 2) Hematocrit values were recovered to normal level during detoxifiying periods but hemoglobin contents in detoxifying diet groups showed no significant difference from those in control group. 3)Pb contents in blood were decreased with increasing dietary protein level, and Pb contents in liver were significantly decreased in high protein diet groups. Pb contents in kidney were significantly decreased during detoxifying period compared to control group, but no significant difference was shown within the detoxifying diet groups. Pb contents in femur were significantly decreased after 3 weeks of detoxifying period but no difference was shown with different dietary protein level. 4) Urinary Pb excretions were significantly increased with increasing dietary protein level. Fecal Pb excretions were remarkably decreased after 3 weeks of detoxifying period, but no difference was showen in fecal Pb excretions with different dietary protein level. Above results suggest that high protein diet improves Pb detoxification by increasing urinary Pb excretion.