title: Effects of low-level lead exposure on cell survival and neurite length in primary mesencephalic cultures.
abstract: The effects of low-level lead exposure on survival and neurite length of rat E15 primary ventral mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons were studied. Lead acetate (0.001-10 microM) added to primary cultures for 48 h (in serum-free defined media [DM]) caused a loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons only at the highest concentrations (1 and 10 microM). In contrast, significant effects on neurite length were observed at concentrations as low as 0.001 microM. Lead-induced decrease in neurite length became more apparent at concentrations of 0.01 microM (mean 37.9% decrease) and 0.10 microM lead acetate (mean 43.9% decrease). These data show that very low concentrations of lead, well below the level necessary to adversely affect neuronal survival, can have dramatic effects on neurite growth. These results support recent clinical findings of detrimental effects of low-level lead exposure on brain development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, 521, JAH, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. jay.schneider@mail.tju.edu
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vemuri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase