Tolerance to lead-induced porphyrin metabolic disorders following lead pretreatment in mice.

The protective effect of pretreatment with lead on lead-induced toxicity was investigated in mice, using some biological parameters such as urinary excretion of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and coproporphyrin, accumulation of erythrocyte protoporphyrin and inhibition of erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase; these are useful indicators for evaluating the effects on health of lead. It was demonstrated that pretreatment with a single intraperitoneal dose of 2 mg Pb/kg, 7 days prior to the challenge dose, prevents in part the increasing excretion of urinary ALA induced by a challenge exposure to lead (200 ppm) in the drinking water for 7 days.