Abstract
Adult rats were given lead (0.27% Pb) in their drinking water and compared with pair-fed controls on several behavior problems: spontaneous alternation and two learning problems with three reversals of each. The lead-treated animals had reduced rates of spontaneous alternation and difficulty in changing behavior when the cues signaling reward and nonreward were reversed. In addition, animals without much handling showed exaggerated responsiveness. These changes are similar, but less extreme, than those seen in neonates treated with lead. The development of a peripheral absorption barrier may account for the reduced sensitivity of adults to lead poisoning relative to similar poisoning with younger subjects.
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This research was supported by Grant NIH RR 07-021-11 to the University of Florida.
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Lanthorn, T., Isaacson, R.L. Effects of chronic lead ingestion in adult rats. Psychobiology 6, 93–95 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03326700
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03326700