Abstract
Two experiments were conduted to evaluate the role of camel milk in preventing the detrimental effect of lead on rat. In the first, 6 groups of adult male rats were administered daily for 60 days the following : group 1 saline; group 2 camel milk; group 3 cow milk, group 4 lead acetate; group 5 camel milk plus lead and group 6 cow milk plus lead. In the second, pregnant female rats were divided and treated following the first experiment. The female were allowed to deliver pups, the treatment continued until weaning of the pups then, the male pups were left without treatment until puberty. Lead caused significant reduction in the body and reproductive organ weights; plasma and testicular testosterone, testicular zinc; antioxidant enzymes, luteinising and follicle stimulating hormones and semen characteristics, while it caused significant increase in malondialdehyde; testicular cholesterol and testicular and plasma lead. Camel milk treatment improved the estimated parameters in adult male rat. However, it could not alleviate these parameters in male rats born for mothers exposed to lead during pregnancy and lactation periods. Camel milk treatment improved the evaluated parameters in adult male rats exposed to lead intoxication albeit not all were identical to the control levels, however, it could not improve these parameters in adult male rats born for mothers exposed to lead during pregnancy and lactation.