Lead content of tissues of baby rats born of, and nourished by lead-poisoned mothers
Three groups of Wistar rats (5 males and 5 females in each group) were given zero, 100 mg., and 200 mg. Pb(NO/sub 3/)/sub 2/ per kilogram of body weight per day for 45 days and were mated. The lead feeding was continued throughout the duration of experiments. The blood and urinary lead, blood aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity, and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin and urinary aminolevulinic acid were measured on these rats at the beginning of the study, at the time of mating, and prior to delivery. The tissues, including kidney, liver, heart, and brain of the newborn progeny were analyzed for lead content. The blood lead and aminolevulinic acid dehydratase were also measured (pooled blood). These tissues contained very high amounts of lead when the newborns were killed within half an hour after their birth, a very significant reduction being found after 1 day with further reduction after 7 days. Kidney and heart contained the highest amount of lead, the levels being dose-related. Three weeks after birth the lead content of tissues rose significantly but blood concentrations remained almost identical to the levels obtained 1 day after birth. There was no evidence of lead accumulation in the brain of the babies. Twelve and a half, and 50 per cent newborns of rats fed 100 mg. Pb(NO/sub 3/)/sub 2/ and 200 mg. Pb(NO/sub 3/)/sub 2/, respectively died during the 3 weeks. The deaths could represent the results of placental transfer of lead or the combined effects of placental and maternal milk lead burden.
- Research Organization:
- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
- OSTI ID:
- 7199306
- Journal Information:
- J. Lab. Clin. Med.; (United States), Vol. 87:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
LEAD
BODY BURDEN
AMINOLEVULINIC ACID
BLOOD
BRAIN
BUILDUP
CONTAMINATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ERYTHROCYTES
HEART
KIDNEYS
LIVER
MORTALITY
POLLUTION
PROGENY
PROTOPORPHYRINS
RATS
TOXICITY
URINE
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ELEMENTS
GLANDS
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
METALS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PIGMENTS
PORPHYRINS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)