EFFECT OF PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL EXPOSURE TO LEAD ON KIDNEY-FUNCTION IN MALE AND FEMALE RATS

The effect of 5 months' exposure to 0.5% lead acetate in drinking wate r on the kidney function of developing rats was studied, In both sexes , lead exposure produced a significant elevation of the kidney weight and after 3 months' treatment both male and female rats showed signs o f tubular impairment, In male rats increased beta(2)-microglobulin and lactate dehydrogenase excretion was observed, Lysozyme was increased after 5 months of exposure, No changes were observed in total proteins and albumin excretion, Female rats showed a significantly increased e xcretion of beta(2)-microglobulin from 3 months onwards, while lactate dehydrogenase increased only at the end of 3 months and total protein s after 5 months of exposure, No changes were observed in lysozyme and albumin excretion, Thus, the results suggest that lead exposure produ ces changes in the renal tubular function of developing rat, There is no sex difference is the nephrotoxicity of lead, Comparison with our p revious studies suggests that exposure to lead starting at weaning is more renotoxic than exposure starting 2 months later, However, prenata l exposure might also have been a contributory factor.