Interactions of Chronic Lead Exposure and Intermittent Stress: Consequences for Brain Catecholamine Systems and Associated Behaviors and HPA Axis Function

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

OXFORD UNIV PRESS

Año: 2005 vol. 87 p. 469 - 469

p align="left" class="MsoBodyText2" style="text-align: left; line-height: 150%;">  Elevated lead (Pb) burden and high stress levels are co-occurring risk factors in low socioeconomic (SES) status children. Our previous work demonstrated that maternal Pb exposure can permanently alter hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function and responsivity to stress challenges in offspring. The current study sought to determine the consequences of chronic Pb exposures initiated later in development combined with variable intermittent stress challenges. Male rats were exposed chronically from weaning to 0, 50 or 150 ppm Pb acetate drinking solutions (producing blood Pb levels of <5, 9-15 and 23-27 ug/dl, respectively). Pb itself decreased basal plasma corticosterone, with greater effects at 5