Abstract
In order to elucidate the mechanism of liver disorders in lead poisoning, alkaline phosphatase activity in rat liver was examined after a single intraperitoneal administration of lead. The serum alkaline phosphatase activity showed the lowest level on 5 th day after injection of lead, increased, thereafter, and returned to the normal level 10 days. On the other hand, liver alkaline phosphatase value was lower on 4 th day being 75% of that of normal rats, and this lowered level continued until 30 th day after treatment with lead. The decrease of hepatic alkaline phosphatase activity was in proportion to the amount of lead administered. In the administration of tin, zinc, manganase, calcium, or lead, the decrease of hepatic alkaline phosphatase activity was the largest in the case of treatment with lead, and the activity did not change by the administration of calcium or zinc. The amount of calcium in the liver increased rapidly after the administration of lead, and calcium at 30 days was approximately 8 times compared with the normal level.
