Metal induced changes in the erythrocyte membrane of rats.
Lead, zinc and copper were administered i.p singly or in combination as acetate salts to rats for 14 consecutive days. It was observed that lead induced drastic changes, copper induced moderate changes but zinc did not cause any significant change in the cholesterol and phospholipid content, hexose, hexosamine and sialic acid levels and activities of the erythrocyte membrane enzymes--acetylcholinesterase (AChE), NADH dehydrogenase and Na(+)-K+ ATPase. In the combined metal treatment the presence of zinc considerably reduced the changes induced by lead and copper.