title: Effect of prenatal and postnatal exposure to lead on kidney function in male and female rats.
abstract: The effect of 5 months' exposure to 0.5% lead acetate in drinking water on the kidney function of developing rats was studied. In both sexes, lead exposure produced a significant elevation of the kidney weight and after 3 months' treatment both male and female rats showed signs of tubular impairment. In male rats increased beta 2-microglobulin and lactate dehydrogenase excretion was observed. Lysozyme was increased after 5 months of exposure. No changes were observed in total proteins and albumin excretion. Female rats showed a significantly increased excretion of beta 2-microglobulin from 3 months onwards, while lactate dehydrogenase increased only at the end of 3 months and total proteins after 5 months of exposure. No changes were observed in lysozyme and albumin excretion. Thus, the results suggest that lead exposure produces changes in the renal tubular function of developing rat. There is no sex difference in the nephrotoxicity of lead. Comparison with our previous studies suggests that exposure to lead starting at weaning is more renotoxic than exposure starting 2 months later. However, prenatal exposure might also have been a contributory factor.
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine du travail et hygiène du milieu, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vyskocil
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cizkova
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tejnorova
mesh_terms: D000419:Albuminuria / Q000139:chemically induced; D000818:Animals; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007854:Lead / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009113:Muramidase / Q000652:urine; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000139:chemically induced; D051381:Rats; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D007854:Lead; D009113:Muramidase; C008261:lead acetate