Delayed behavioral toxicity of lead with increasing exposure concentration

Journal Article · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1982 · Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0041-008X(83)90021-2· OSTI ID:6914207

Cory-Slechta, D A

Twenty-one day-old male Long-Evans hooded rats were exposed chronically to drinking solutions containing 500 ppm sodium acetate (controls) or 50, 100, or 500 ppm lead acetate. Performance on a fixed interval 1-min schedule of food reinforcement was assessed over 155 sessions. Blood lead values were monitored serially and brain lead determinations made at the end of testing (355 days of lead exposure). The lowest concentration of lead in the drinking water was associated with increases in the rate of fixed-interval responding over the first 30 sessions. At the two higher concentrations, response rate values similar to controls over the first 40 sessions were followed by rate increases. The latency to maximum rate depended on concentration; the highest concentration was associated with the longest latency. Response rates of rats exposed to 50 ppm lead gradually returned to control levels after 120 sessions, while increased rates were sustained in rats at 100 and 500 ppm lead, even 100 days after lead exposure was terminated. Marked individual differences in susceptibility to lead-induced rate increases were observed in all treatment groups. Serial blood lead values were related both to exposure concentrations. Blood-brain ratios averaged 0.743 to 0.913, which agree with other data for the rat and human. These results confirm the vulnerability to lead of rats beyond the neonatal period, and extend the range of conditions under which such effects occur.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76EV03490
• OSTI ID: 6914207
• Journal Information: Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.; (United States), Journal Name: Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.; (United States) Vol. 71; ISSN TXAPA
• 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.
ACETATES
ALKALI METALS
ANIMALS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
DRINKING WATER
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LEAD
MAMMALS
METALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RATS
RODENTS
SODIUM
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
WATER