Effects of lead on central nervous system development of the cat and rat
This study utilizes the kitten as an experimental model because the neuroanatomical development of the cat more closely resembles that of the human, more so than the rat. Each kitten, except one control per litter, was given 20 mg/kg lead acetate daily by esophageal intubation for 35 days. At 35 days of age the kittens were sacrificed and prepared by standard methods for light or Golgi analysis. Body weight, but not brain weight, was reduced in lead-treated cats. However, Golgi-Cox stained material revealed a significant reduction in size and density of the Purkinje cell dendritic arborization in lead-treated animals. The width of the molecular layer was reduced reflecting this reduction in Purkinje cell dendritic field. The granule cell layer was reduced in width, while granule cell density was increased, indicating no reduction in cell number. The pyramidal cells from the motor cortex of lead-treated cats showed a reduction in secondary dendritic branching and a phenomenal increase in spine density on apical and basal dendrites. A series of studies using rats was also performed similar to those described by Pentschew and Garro (1966) for comparative purposes. Exposure to lead pre- and postnatally only caused changes in Purkinje cells similar to those seen in the lead-treated kittens. Histological changes were seen in pre- and postnatally exposed rat pups only. Esophageal intubation of high doses of lead solutions in newborn rat pups produced hemorrhagic lesions in both cerebellar and cerebral hemispheres within 24 hours after lead treatment.
- OSTI ID:
- 6208237
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CATS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
ELEMENTS
LEAD
MAMMALS
METALS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ONTOGENESIS
RATS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES