Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Lead toxicity in the pregnant rat

Journal Article · · Environ. Res.; (United States)
A study was made of the effects of administration of 500 ppm of lead in the drinking water of pregnant rats and their fetuses. The delta-aminolevulinic acid dehyratase (ALAD) activity of erythrocytes in the lead-treated fetuses showed 59.7 and 73.0% inhibition on Days 18 and 21 of pregnancy, respectively. ALAD activities in the liver and placenta were not significantly different between the lead-treated and control animals. The lead concentrations of blood and liver in the lead-treated dams and fetuses were higher than in the control animals, but the lead level of amniotic fluid was not significantly different from that of the control animals. Significant correlations were observed between maternal and fetal blood lead, liver lead, and erythrocyte ALAD, but there was no significant correlation between maternal and fetal liver ALAD.
Research Organization:
Dokkyo Univ. School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan
OSTI ID:
5504277
Journal Information:
Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 30:1; ISSN ENVRA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English