MINIMAL BEHAVIORAL-EFFECTS FROM MODERATE POSTNATAL LEAD TREATMENT IN RATS

Developmental lead exposure continues to be a worldwide problem. This study investigated the behavioral effects resulting from developmental lead treatment in rats with corresponding physiological measures of l ead exposure. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 350 ppm lead aceta te from birth to weaning via the dam's drinking water. Behavioral meas ures assessed in the offspring included residential activity tests, co mplex maze performance, acoustic startle response, emergence behavior (light/dark preference), prepulse inhibition, and ethological assessme nts of play, dominance, and burrowing. Pb blood levels averaged 53 mu g/dl in the dam at the time of offspring weaning and 46 mu g/dl in wea nling female offspring. Pb levels averaged 277 ng/g and 32 mu g/g in t he brain and bone, respectively, of female offspring at weaning. No be havioral assessment indicated any lead-related functional alterations nor were there any statistically significant differences when the lead -treated group was restricted to rats in those litters that were above the median Pb blood lead level at weaning. These results indicate tha t any lead-related functional alterations at this dose may be subtle a nd require a sufficient demand on the system far detection. (C) 1998 E lsevier Science Inc.