title: Influence of sex hormones on free erythrocyte protoporphyrin response to lead in rats.
abstract: Following oral administration of lead a difference in free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) increase was found between adult male, adult female and suckling rats: young animals are more susceptible than adult female rats which in turn exhibit a greater FEP increase than adult male animals. This observation parallels that made previously in humans. Possible difference in iron metabolism does not appear to explain the sex-linked difference in FEP response to lead. Sex hormones mainly progesterone, seem to play a role but their interaction with lead on the FEP response is restricted to female rats and apparently is not mediated through changes in delta-aminolevulinic acid synthetase activity.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D012737:Sex Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011166:Porphyrins; D011524:Protoporphyrins; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007501:Iron