EFFECTS OF SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ON LEAD-INDUCED DEPRESSION OF GROWTH AND FOOD-CONSUMPTION IN WEANLING RATS

The objective of this study was to determine whether growth-depressant effects of lead (Pb) could be prevented by preventing the accompanyin g depression of caloric intake from ad libitum food consumption by cal oric supplementation. The animal used was the female weanling rat, Thr ee experiments were performed in which progressively increasing levels of caloric supplementation were provided in order to attain a level o f nutrition which would totally prevent growth depression from Pb expo sure, Nutritional supplementation of Pb-exposed animals almost complet ely eliminated the Pb-induced depression of weight gains, We conclude that the deficit in growth due to Pb can be adequately explained on th e basis of a primary effect on appetite, rather than being secondary t o depression of proliferative responses of cells to growth factors, e, g,, insulin-like growth factor I. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.