The effect of heavy metals on the enzymatic activity of the rabbit in Libya

Abstract

The vast industrial development in the world accompanied with a pollution of the environment especially from the heavy metals. The present study addresses the impact of Cd +2, Co+2 and Cu+2 on the activities of ALP, CPK, LDH, GOT and GPT in the plasma of rabbits. Rabbits received repeated oral doses of drinking water contaminated with two different concentrations (10ppm and 20ppm) over 60 days. Serum samples were collected for biochemical assay. The percentage of enzymatic activity changes was calculated and the correlation between heavy metal concentration and enzymatic activity was determined using  Pearson correlation factor (r). Compared to the control group, the ALP, LDH, GOT and GPT activities were inhibited while CPK activity was increased with a strong correlation between the heavy metals concentration to the enzymatic activity of all enzymes. The finding strongly prove that these elements are highly toxic to the rabbits as they have a great impact on the metabolic processes by altering the activities of key enzymes.