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Low doses of lead

Effects on reproduction and development in rats

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Abstract

The effects of exposure to high doses of lead on reproduction and development have been established, but not so those caused by low lead doses or the influence that life stage at which contact with the metal takes place might have. The aim of this work was to study the effects of 200 and 400 ppm lead acetate in drinking water on reproduction and development as well as on renal and hepatic parameters of rats at different life stages, from gestation to 3 mo postweaning. The results indicate a dose-dependent effect on reproduction, with variations in the number of births and in pups' weight. Development was mostly affected at the weaning stage, with hemoglobin levels and erythrocyte numbers significantly decreased. The lead levels in tissues, blood, urine, and feces along with selected renal and hepatic parameters (blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase) were determined. There were histological, blood urea nitrogen, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase changes in the first month postweaning. After 3 mo, these changes are no longer evident, possibly because of metabolic adaptation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departmento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universided Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    César Teijón & Arturo Romero

  2. Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Rosa Olmo, Dolores Blanco & José M. Teijón

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  1. César Teijón
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  2. Rosa Olmo
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  5. José M. Teijón
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Teijón, C., Olmo, R., Blanco, D. et al. Low doses of lead. Biol Trace Elem Res 111, 151–165 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1385/BTER:111:1:151

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/BTER:111:1:151

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