“Amphetamine and stress responses in developmentally lead-exposed rats”

VIRGOLINI, M.B.; FULGINITI, A.S.; VOLOSIN, M.; CANCELA, L.M.

NEUROTOXICOLOGY AND TERATOLOGY.

Año: 2004 vol. 26 p. 291 - 291

0892-0362

n this study, pregnant Wistar dams were exposed to 220 ppm of lead (Pb) in drinking water during gestation and lactation. The response to the locomotor-stimulating effects of 0.5 mg/kg of amphetamine (AMPH) was evaluated in 35-day-old male offspring. The results demonstrated that developmental Pb exposure induced no differences in the response to the drug, although an increase in locomotor activity induced by a single saline (SAL) injection was observed selectively in the Pb-exposed group. Considering evidence that suggests a relationship between increased locomotor activity and stress response, a time course analysis of corticosterone (CS) secretion and locomotor performance was carried out. Higher basal levels of CS and elevated stress-induced secretion of this hormone in response to the injection were observed in Pb-exposed rats compared to controls, a pattern that showed a time-related increase in locomotor activity. Habituation to SAL injections prior to testing restored both CS