Impact of lead on nucleic acids and incorporation of labelled amino acid into protein
Dhar, A.; Banerjee, P.K.
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research. Internationale Zeitschrift für Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal International de Vitaminologie et de Nutrition 53(3): 349-354
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9831 PMID: 6195121 Document Number: 220885
The effects of high administration of lead acetate (3.4 mg/100 g body wt) for 4 days were studied in albino rats. The weights of Pb treated rats were not affected while the liver showed enlargement following treatment. Administration of Pb reduced the protein content of liver and the concentration of DNA decreased to a slight extent. Protein/DNA ratio in liver remained unaltered and this unaltered protein/DNA ratio following Pb treatment suggested nonimpairment of cellular protein concentration. The RNA content of liver was increased following treatment and protein/RNA ratio was reduced. RNA/U amount of DNA was increased and this increased cellular concentration of RNA might have resulted from the degradation of RNA. Pb administration caused a reduction in the incorporation in vivo 14C-Leu into liver protein. The diminished incorporation of amino acid into protein following Pb treatment might have been affected at the translational level of protein biosynthesis.