Histology and ultrastructure of kidney tissue from ringed turtle doves that ingested lead

Ringed turtle doves (Streptopelia risoria) ingested 4 x 122 mg lead pellets or lead acetate (75 μg Pb/g body weight) and their kidneys were examined by histological and electron microscopic techniques. Doves that received lead treatments had readily discernable lead intranuclear inclusion bodies in cells of the proximal convoluted tubules. At 33,000 X, the inclusions had a characteristic dense central core, and outer fibrillary zone. Necrosis in the proximal tubular area was seen as deterioration of cell cytoplasm and reduction in mitochondria. In doves ingesting lead, histological evaluation of proximal convoluted tubular cells revealed acid-fast pinkish granules in cell nuclei. Inclusions form rapidly as 1 dove that died after receiving the first of two lead doses (75 μg Pb/g body weight/day) had relatively small intranuclear inclusions in cells of the proximal convoluted tubules.