Memory Effect of Neurotoxic Lead Compounds in Subacute Animal Experiments

Tünde Vezér, Horst Schulz, and László Nagymajtényi

Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary

Corresponding author: Tünde Vezér
    Department of Public Health
    University of Szeged
    Dóm tér 10.
    H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
    Telephone: (+36) 62 545 119
    Fax number: (+36) 62 545 120
    E-mail: vezer@puhe.szote.u-szeged.hu

CEJOEM 2000, Vol.6. No.2-3.:209-216


Key words:
Lead acetate, tetraethyllead, neurotoxicity, spatial working memory, reference memory, hippocampus, cortex, Wistar rat


Abstract:
Neurotoxic metal compounds induce biochemical, histological, electrophysiological, etc. changes in the central and peripheral nervous system, directly or via influencing enzyme, transmitter, or metabolic systems. In the present subacute experiments, male Wistar rats were postnatally treated by gavage with various doses of inorganic (lead acetate; 1/1000, 1/100, and 1/10 LD50, i.e., 5.00, 50.00 and 500.00 mg/kg b.w.) or organic lead (tetraethyllead; 1/100 and 1/25 LD50, i.e., 0.123 and 0,492 mg/kg b.w.). The effects on various learning and memory processes (acquisition, short-term and long-term memory, and return) were studied. The memory was tested in an 8-arm radial maze after the 7th day of treatment. The performance of the animals during phases of learning (acquisition, 2- and 4-hour working memory, 2- and 4-hour working memory after recovery) was investigated as a function of dose and treatment time. It was found that both inorganic and organic lead compounds cause a dose- and time-dependent memory deficit, which was significant for both short-term and long-term memories and working memory after return.


Received:  31 July 2000
Accepted:  14  December 2000

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