Laboratory of Comparative Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan.
Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan.
Environ Pollut. 2021 Aug 15;283:117086. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117086. Epub 2021 Apr 5.
Lead poisoning of wild birds by ingestion of lead ammunition occurs worldwide. Histopathological changes in organs of lead-intoxicated birds are widely known, and lead concentration of each organ is measurable using mass spectrometry. However, detailed lead localization at the suborgan level has remained elusive in lead-exposed birds. Here we investigated the detailed lead localization in organs of experimentally lead-exposed ducks and kites by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). In both the ducks and kites, lead accumulated diffusely in the liver, renal cortex, and brain. Lead accumulation was restricted to the red pulp in the spleen. With regard to species differences in lead distribution patterns, it is noteworthy that intensive lead accumulation was observed in the arterial walls only in the kites. In addition, the distribution of copper in the brain was altered in the lead-exposed ducks. Thus, the present study shows suborgan lead distribution in lead-exposed birds and its differences between avian species for the first time. These findings will provide fundamental information to understand the cellular processes of lead poisoning and the mechanisms of species differences in susceptibility to lead exposure.
鸟类通过摄入含铅弹药而导致的铅中毒在全球范围内都有发生。人们广泛了解到，铅中毒鸟类的器官会发生组织病理学变化，并且可以使用质谱法测量每个器官中的铅浓度。然而，在暴露于铅的鸟类中，详细的亚器官水平的铅定位仍然难以捉摸。在这里，我们通过激光烧蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱法（LA-ICP-MS）研究了实验性暴露于铅的鸭子和风筝中器官的详细铅定位。在鸭子和风筝中，铅在肝脏、肾皮质和大脑中广泛积累。在脾脏中，铅的积累仅限于红髓。关于不同物种之间铅分布模式的差异，值得注意的是，只有在风筝中才观察到动脉壁上密集的铅积累。此外，暴露于铅的鸭子大脑中的铜分布也发生了改变。因此，本研究首次显示了暴露于铅的鸟类的亚器官铅分布及其在不同鸟类物种之间的差异。这些发现将为理解铅中毒的细胞过程和对铅暴露易感性的物种差异机制提供基础信息。
