title: Lipid peroxidation and ultrastructural modifications in brain after perinatal exposure to lead and/or cadmium in rat pups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess lipid peroxidation and ultrastructural modifications in rat brains following perinatal exposure to lead (Pb) and/or cadmium (Cd).
  
  
  METHODS
  Female rats were divided into four groups: control group, Pb (300 mg/L) group, Cd group (10 mg/L) and Pb+Cd (300 mg/L, 10 mg/L) group. The compounds were delivered in the drinking water throughout pregnancy and lactation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of compounds in blood and brain of the Pb+Cd group were similar to those of other groups, but the effects of Pb+Cd on pups' body and brain weights were higher than on other compounds. Electron microscopy revealed that Pb and Cd had effects on mitochondrial swelling, disruption and cristae loss, Nissl body dissolution, degenerated organelles and vacuoles, cytomembrane disappearance, and nuclear chromoplasm concentration. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was decreased, whereas the activity of maleic dialdehyde (MDA) was increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perinatal exposure to low doses of Pb and Cd can produce alterations in lipid peroxidation and ultrastructural modifications in rat brains, and exposure to both metals can result in greater damages.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xue-Zhong
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Zong-Ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D014867:Water; D007854:Lead; D008315:Malondialdehyde