EFFECTS OF INORGANIC LEAD ON THE DIFFERENTIATION AND GROWTH OF CORTICAL-NEURONS IN CULTURE

Citation
M. Kern et al., EFFECTS OF INORGANIC LEAD ON THE DIFFERENTIATION AND GROWTH OF CORTICAL-NEURONS IN CULTURE, Neurotoxicology, 14(2-3), 1993, pp. 319-328
Citations number
62
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology & Pharmacy",Neurosciences
Journal title
ISSN journal
0161813X
Volume
14
Issue
2-3
Year of publication
1993
Pages
319 - 328
Database
ISI
SICI code
0161-813X(1993)14:2-3<319:EOILOT>2.0.ZU;2-8
Abstract
Lead exposure has devastating effects on the developing nervous system , producing morphological, cognitive, and behavioral deficits. To eluc idate some of the mechanisms of lead neurotoxicity, we have examined i ts effects on the differentiation of several types of cultured neurons . Previously, we reported the effects of inorganic lead on several par ameters of growth and differentiation of E18 rat hippocampal neurons a nd two types of neuroblastoma cells cultured in medium with 2% fetal c alf serum (FCS) (Audesirk et al., 1991). In the present study, we repo rt the effects of concentrations of lead ranging from 1 nM to 1 mM on the differentiation of hippocampal neurons cultured in medium containi ng 10% FCS. In addition, we investigated lead effects on neurons isola ted from the motor cortex region of the E18 rat embryo. Cortical neuro ns were exposed to lead in concentrations ranging from 0. 1 nm to 1 mM in medium with either 10% FCS or 2% FCS for 48 hr. The effects of lea d tended to be multimodal. Neurite initiation, which is highly sensiti ve to neurotoxic compounds, was inhibited by lead at both high and low concentrations, with no effects at intermediate levels. Medium with 1 0% FCS enhanced certain growth parameters and tended to reduce the eff ects of lead. There was an overall consistency in the effects of lead on motor cortex and hippocampal neurons. (C) 1993 Intox Press, Inc.