Evaluation of the acute effect of heavy metals exposure on lipid profile of albino wistar rats

Acute effect of heavy metals exposure on lipid profile of male albino wistar rats was evaluated. Sixteen (16) animals weighing 292-298g were randomly assigned four groups of four rats each. Groups 1 and 2 were orally treated ones with 40 percent below the lethal doses (LD50) of Lead and Mercury respectively. Group 3 was treated with both heavy metals (20 percent below the LD50 each of the metals). Group 4 was not treated with either of the heavy metals and served as control. Each group of animals was allow free access to commercial rat mash and water for one week that the study lasted. After the 7 days experimentation, the results revealed a non-significant increase (P > 0.05) in serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol in group 1 when compared to the control. A significant decrease in serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P < 0.05) in group 1 was recorded when compared to the control. Groups 2 and 3 animals died 24 hours and 48 hours respectively after treatment. The implications of these results are discussed