Lead acetate potentiates brain catalase activity and enhances ethanol-induced locomotion in mice

Several reports have demonstrated that acute lead acetate administration en hances brain catalase activity in animals. Other reports have shown a role of brain catalase in ethanol-induced behaviors. In the present study we inv estigated the effect of acute lead acetate on brain catalase activity and o n ethanol-induced locomotion, as well as whether mice treated with differen t doses of lead acetate: and therefore, with enhanced brain catalase activi ty, exhibit an increased ethanol-induced locomotor activity. Lead acetate o r saline was injected IP in Swiss mice at doses of 50, 150, 150, or 200 mg/ kg. At 7 days following this treatment, ethanol (0.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, or 3.0 g/kg) was injected IP, and the animals were placed in the open-field chamb ers. Results indicated that the locomotor activity induced by ethanol was s ignificantly increased in the groups treated with lead acetate. Maximum eth anol-induced locomotor activity increase was found in animals treated with 100 mg/kg of lead acetate and 2.5 g/kg of ethanol. Total brain catalase act ivity in lead-pretreated animals also showed a significant induction, which was maximum at 100 mg/kg of lead acetate treatment. No differences in bloo d ethanol levels were observed among treatment groups. The fact that brain catalase and ethanol-induced locomotor activity followed a similar pattern could suggest a relationship between both lead acetate effects and also a r ole for brain catalase in ethanol-induced behaviors. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce Inc.