title: Detrimental effects of maternal lead exposure during pregnancy and lactation on molar development in the young rat.
abstract: The purpose of this animal study was to investigate the influence of maternal lead exposure during pregnancy and lactation on molar development in the offspring. Scanning electron microscopy revealed no significant differences in the molar morphology among the groups. However, in all the experimental groups, deep, wide cracks were found in the occlusal enamel. Further, the experimental groups had smaller molar diameters than the control group, lead exposure during lactation had a greater influence on the molar size in the offspring, and the groups with the higher dose of lead exposure during pregnancy and lactation had significantly smaller molar sizes than the groups that received the lower dose. The mesiodistal and buccolingual diameters of molars were measured as 3.10 ± 0.07 and 1.95 ± 0.04 mm for control group, 2.97 ± 0.08 and 1.94 ± 0.01 mm for lactation group of low dose, 2.96 ± 0.05 and 1.84 ± 0.02 mm for lactation group of high dose, 3.09 ± 0.06 and 1.94 ± 0.04 mm for pregnancy group of low dose, and 3.02 ± 0.06 and 1.85 ± 0.06 mm for pregnancy group of high dose, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Hygiene, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hong-Sen
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Ker-Kong
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Kun-Jung
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008963:Molar / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D007854:Lead