Tissue distribution of lead in rat pups nourished by lead-poisoned mothers

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398209530143· OSTI ID:5009703

Hejtmancik, Jr, M R; Dawson, E B; Williams, B J

Lead accumulation was studied in rats treated with Pb through the dam's milk from birth to weaning. Dams of experimental litters received lead acetate in drinking water, while dams of control litters received a sodium acetate solution. Fluid consumption by dams and pup weight were monitored daily. No differences were seen in the dams' fluid consumption or in mortality or growth rate of pups. Rats were sacrificed after 5, 10, 16, or 21 d of Pb treatment, or 3 and 3.5 mo after weaning. Samples of heart, brain, liver, kidney, intestine, and bone were solubilized in concentration nitric acid and analyzed for Pb by atomic adsorption spectrophotometry. Nitric acid digests of blood samples from pups 10 and 21 d old and from animals allowed a Pb-free period of 3-3.5 mo after treatment were also analyzed for Pb concentration. Levels of Pb in all tissues analyzed progressively increased during the first 10 d of treatment. After the Pb-free period only bone Pb concentrations remained elevated. The results indicate that treatment of lactating dams is an efficient method of producing chronic Pb exposure of rat pups. The results also provide a means of comparing studies of Pb toxicity in which different treatment paradigms are used.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
• OSTI ID: 5009703
• Journal Information: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 9:1; ISSN JTEHD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BRAIN
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
DRINKING WATER
ELEMENTS
GLANDS
HEART
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
KIDNEYS
LACTATION
LEAD
LIVER
MAMMALS
METALS
MORTALITY
NEONATES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RATS
RODENTS
SPECTROSCOPY
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
VERTEBRATES
WATER