Abstract
Reports of neurologic impairment of children following recovery from acute lead encephalopathy have raised questions concerning the effects of chronic low-level lead exposure on the central nervous system. Behavioral toxicologic techniques have been employed to assess the effects of lead on the central nervous system in sheep. Mature sheep receiving daily doses of 100 mg lead/kg showed a significant decrease in performance on an auditory signal detection task. Daily oral doses of 120 and 230 mg lead/sheep for 27 weeks did not alter the performance of mature sheep on a fixed-interval schedule of reinforcement behavioral task. Prenatal exposure to maternal blood lead levels of 16 or 34 μg/100 ml during gestation and postnatal daily ingestion of 16, 8, 4, or 2 mg lead/kg did not alter performance of lambs on a closed-field maze task. Slowed learning was demonstrated in lambs prenatally exposed to maternal blood lead levels of 34 μg/100 ml during gestation when tested on nonspatial, two-choice visual discrimination problems at 10–15 months of age.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- BRADLEY J. E., BAUMGARTNER R. J. Subsequent mental development of children with lead encephalopathy, as related to type of treatment. J Pediatr. 1958 Sep;53(3):311–315. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(58)80217-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brown S., Dragann N., Vogel W. H. Effects of lead acetate on learning and memory in rats. Arch Environ Health. 1971 Mar;22(3):370–372. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1971.10665857. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Carson T. L., Van Gelder G. A., Buck W. B., Hoffman L. J., Mick D. L., Long K. R. Effects of low level lead ingestion in sheep. Clin Toxicol. 1973;6(3):389–403. doi: 10.3109/15563657308990539. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fine P. R., Thomas C. W., Suhs R. H., Cohnberg R. E., Flashner B. A. Pediatric blood lead levels. A study in 14 Illinois cities of intermediate population. JAMA. 1972 Sep 25;221(13):1475–1479. doi: 10.1001/jama.221.13.1475. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Guinee V. F. Lead poisoning. Am J Med. 1972 Mar;52(3):283–288. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(72)90015-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lin-Fu J. S. Undue absorption of lead among children--a new look at an old problem. N Engl J Med. 1972 Mar 30;286(13):702–710. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197203302861306. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MELLINS R. B., JENKINS C. D. Epidemiological and psychological study of lead poisoning in children. J Am Med Assoc. 1955 May 7;158(1):15–20. doi: 10.1001/jama.1955.02960010017004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- RABINOVITCH M. S., ROSVOLD H. E. A closed-field intelligence test for rats. Can J Psychol. 1951 Sep;5(3):122–128. doi: 10.1037/h0083542. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rieke F. E. Lead intoxication in shipbuilding and shipscrapping, 1941 to 1968. Arch Environ Health. 1969 Oct;19(4):521–539. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1969.10666879. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- THURSTON D. L., MIDDELKAMP J. N., MASON E. The late effects of lead poisoning. J Pediatr. 1955 Oct;47(4):413–423. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(55)80052-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Van Gelder G. A., Carson T., Smith R. M., Buck W. B. Behavioral toxicologic assessment of the neurologic effect of lead in sheep. Clin Toxicol. 1973;6(3):405–418. doi: 10.3109/15563657308990540. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Weiss B., Laties V. G. Behavioral pharmacology and toxicology. Annu Rev Pharmacol. 1969;9:297–326. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pa.09.040169.001501. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wiener G. Varying psychological sequelae of lead ingestion in children. Public Health Rep. 1970 Jan;85(1):19–24. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]