title: Influence of parental lead exposure on subsequent learning ability of offspring.
abstract: This study was designed to assess the learning ability of rat offspring following the exposure of one or both parents to lead acetate (Pb) from 30-90 days of age. At that time, parents were mated to yield four groups: Group Pb-Pb, both parents had received Pb; Group Pb-N, only the mother had received Pb; Group N-Pb, only the father had received Pb; Group N-N, the control parents. Mothers were continued on their respective treatments throughout gestation and nursing. Testing of offspring began at 30 days of age, employing a black-white discrimination water T maze. Analysis of results revealed that the three Pb groups made more errors than the controls, but did not differ from one another. However, offspring in Group Pb-Pb had longer swimming times than those in Groups Pb-N and N-Pb, who, in turn, had longer swimming times than Group N-N. Thus dual parental exposure was more severe than single parental exposure, which, however, still exerted a detrimental effect compared to control performance.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D007854:Lead / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D013550:Swimming; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007854:Lead