الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract The liver is the largest internal organ and gland of human body. It has a weight of 1.4–1.6 kg in the adult, which represents about 2% of whole body weight. It has several functions in the body such as metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins, production of coagulation factor and albumin as well as storage of vitamins and glycogen. In addition, it detoxifies xenobiotics and drugs, so it can expose to several diseases including toxicity. Hepatotoxicity can be induced also by natural chemical agents (such as aflatoxin), industrial agents, and heavy metals (such as lead, Pb). The lead is a toxic heavy metal with a wide abundance in earth and it can be absorbed via the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tracts, and rarely through the skin. After absorption, lead is distributed in the blood, bone, and soft tissues while liver is its largest storehouse (33%). It can interact with the cellular macromolecules causing proteins dysfunction, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a dynamic imbalance between free radicals [reactive oxygen (ROS) or nitrogen (RNS) species] and antioxidants. This will induce hepatocyte inflammation, proliferation, necrosis, loss of hepatic reticular fiber, fatty changes and mild fibrosis. |