Chronic lead intoxication: effects on developing optic nerve.
The effects of chronic lead intoxication were studied by examining the optic nerve of mice given lead-containing mother's milk from day 1 to day 21 of life. Biochemical assays for myelin basic protein, 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodieterase, and cerebroside sulfotransferase showed that the total amount of myelin produced by the lead-exposed animals was decreased. Lead exposure did not alter the number of oligodendroglia or the relationship between axons and myelin sheaths. The hypomyelination was paralleled by a reduction in size of optic axons in the lead-exposed animals. The data suggest that chronic exposure to lead in developing mice results in a primary effect on neurons and that hypomyelination is secondary to reduction in axon size.
D015087:2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases / Q000378:metabolism; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002554:Cerebrosides / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D051379:Mice; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D015238:Sulfotransferases; D013466:Sulfurtransferases / Q000378:metabolism
D002554:Cerebrosides; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D013466:Sulfurtransferases; D015238:Sulfotransferases; C020556:galactosylceramide sulfotransferase; D015087:2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases