DENDRITIC ALTERATIONS OF CORTICAL PYRAMIDAL NEURONS IN POSTNATALLY LEAD-EXPOSED KITTENS - A GOLGI-COX STUDY

Cortical pyramidal cell development was studied in postnatally lead-ex posed kittens by light microscopic and Golgi staining methods. The mos t evident finding was an elevation of spine density on the distal apic al dendritic branches of lead-treated kittens. Also, the branching pat tern of the apical dendrites in lead-treated animals was different fro m control, but there was no overall change in total branch number of t he dendritic arbor. Pyramidal cell height and cortical thickness were unaffected. No evidence of vascular damage or other pathologies were f ound in hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections. The results are discus sed with reference to dendritic spine development and function and to other reports of hyperspiny dendrites, Evidence of hyperspiny dendrite s in the present study indicates this represents a useful protocol for investigating dendritic spine development and differentiation.