Background: Lead poisoning between pregnant women is a significant public health problem, as it affects development of fetuses.
Objective: To evaluate the histological changes in the kidney of rat pups at gestational day 18 and at postnatal day 21and the impact of co-treatment with vitamin C.
Material and Methods: Twelve adult female rats and six adult male rats were used in this study. Twelve pregnant female rats were divided into two equal groups (prenatal and postnatal). Each group was divided into three subgroups. Group (ІA, IIA): served as control group. Group (IB): given 10mg/Kg of lead orally from the first day of pregnancy till 18th day of gestation. Group (IC): given 10mg/Kg of lead plus 40 mg/Kg of vitamin C orally from the first day of pregnancy till 18th day of gestation. Group (IIB): given 10mg/Kg of lead body orally from the first day of pregnancy till the post natal day 21. Group (IIC): given 10mg /Kg of lead plus 40 mg /Kg of vitamin C orally from the first day of pregnancy till the post natal day 21.
Results: In lead groups (prenatal and postnatal), there were histological changes and biochemical alterations in urea and creatinine. These results were improved in vitamin C co-treatment.
Conclusion: This study showed that vitamin C might have a protective effect against lead-induced nephrotoxicity.