title: Early chronic low-level lead exposure produces glomerular hypertrophy in young C57BL/6J mice.
abstract: Early chronic lead exposure continues to pose serious health risks for children, particularly those living in lower socioeconomic environments. This study examined effects on developing glomeruli in young C57BL/6J mice exposed to low (30 ppm), higher (330 ppm) or no lead via dams' drinking water from birth to sacrifice on post-natal day 28. Low-level lead exposed mice [BLL mean (SD); 3.19 (0.70) μg/dL] had an increase in glomerular volume but no change in podocyte number compared to control mice [0.03 (0.01) μg/dL]. Higher-level lead exposed mice [14.68 (2.74) μg/dL] had no change in either glomerular volume or podocyte number. The increase in glomerular volume was explained by increases in glomerular capillary and mesangial volumes with no change in podocyte volume. Early chronic lead exposure yielding very low blood lead levels alters glomerular development in pre-adolescent animals.
authors.affiliation: Life Sciences Institute, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E 120th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA. Electronic address: johnbasgen@cdrewu.edu.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Basgen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health Science, University of Texas, El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA; Border Biomedical Research Center, College of Science, University of Texas, El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA; Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: casobin@utep.edu.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sobin
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006984:Hypertrophy; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D050527:Mesangial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D050199:Podocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Capillary volume; Design-based stereology; Glomerular hypertrophy; Mesangial volume; Pb toxicity