The effect of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil on lead and manganese co-exposure induced changes in bone marrow of rats during development

Abstract

The exposure to toxic levels of lead and manganese during developmental period can impair growth with potential adverse effects on biological tissues. In the current study, we examined the toxicity effects of lead and manganese maternal ingestion in drinking water during gestation and lactation on blood and bone marrow changes. Wistar rat pups via their pregnant dams were given distilled water, 4.79 mg/ml Mn and 0.2 mg/ml Pb in drinking water during prenatal and post natal until weaning. After that, the co-exposed rats to lead and manganese received injections of essential oil of Foeniculum vulgare (0.1 ml/kg) for 21 days. The results showed that metal-exposed pups had lower body and bone weights and elevated blood concentrations of the respective metal. The obtained results showed also that lead and manganese intoxication resulted in a significant decrease in red blood cells count, hemoglobin concentration, % packed cell volume and mean cell volume. Moreover, blood smears examined illustrate that lead and manganese induce disturbances in the development of different types of red blood cell during development by an increase in acanthocytes and presence dacaryocytes. Regarding the histopathological examination, metal co-exposed induced a rarification of the bone marrow and a regression of the erythroblastosis. However, treatments with Foeniculum vulgare essential oil improved the majority of hematological parameters and reduced the alterations of histopathological damage in bone marrow.