Maternal stress modulates the effects of developmental lead exposure

CORY-SLECHTA, D.A.; VIRGOLINI, M.B.; THIRUCHELVAM, M.; WESTON, D.D.; BAUTER, M.R

US DEPT HEALTH HUMAN SCIENCES PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCE

Año: 2004 vol. 112 p. 717 - 717

p class="MsoDate" style="text-indent: 36pt; line-height: 150%;">Lead (Pb) exposure preferentially targets low socioeconomic status (SES) children in the U.S. Low SES itself is a known risk factor for various diseases and dysfunctions, effects that have been ascribed to chronic stress and associated elevation of glucocorticoids. Chronically elevated glucocorticoids and Pb provoke similar behavioral changes and both can act on mesocorticolimbic systems of the brain. This study therefore examined the hypothesis that these co-occurring risk factors, Pb and environmental stress, would interact and modulate each others? effects. Using a rodent model, it focused on the specific contributions of maternal stress (restraint) and maternal Pb exposure (150 ppm in drinking water) on offspring corticosterone levels, and on neurotransmitter changes and a behavioral baseline (Fixed Interval (FI) schedule-controlled performance) with known sensitivities to Pb. Interactions of Pb and stress