Effects of experimental lead exposure on erythrocyte morphometrics and nuclear abnormalities in nestling great tits Parus major

Abstract Birds are widely recognized as relevant ecological indicators of heavy metal pollution. Although the effects of lead poisoning on birds, particularly its impact on the hematopoietic system, have been relatively well studied, some aspects in this field like morphometry alterations of blood cells remain unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of lead intoxication on morphometric variations and the frequency of nuclear anomalies in the erythrocytes of great tit Parus major nestlings. To achieve this, an experimental approach was adopted, exposing nestlings to a single dose of two specific lead concentrations. The findings demonstrated that elevated dietary lead exposure significantly affected the morphometric traits of erythrocytes in great tit nestlings. Specifically, higher lead doses resulted in significant reductions in erythrocyte size and alterations in their shape. Furthermore, the frequency of nuclear abnormalities in erythrocytes increased in a dose-dependent manner. This study highlights the potential use of avian erythrocytes in ecotoxicological assessments and suggests that analyzing morphometric and nuclear alterations in erythrocytes may serve as a sensitive bioindicator of environmental lead pollution, even following a single exposure.