Histological and Histochemical Alterations Induced by Lead in the Kidney of the Quail Coturnix Coturnix

Adult males of the quail Coturnix coturnix were exposed to lead acetate trihydrate in drinking water (0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1% for 1 to 6 months) to investigate histological and histochemical alterations induced by lead intoxication in the kidney. Chronic exposure to subtoxic concentrations of lead produced progressive tubular, glomerular and interstitial damages that include tubular dilation, vacuolar degeneration, nuclear pyknosis, mesangial hypercellularity and proliferation, glomerular basement membrane thickening, interstitial edema, congestion of blood capillaries and hemsiderosis. The findings revealed that chronic exposure to lead produced significant histological and histochemical changes in the kidney of the quail Coturnix coturnix