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
| Back |