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Lead exposure potentiates predatory attack behavior in the cat
Wenjie Li1, Shenggao Han, Thomas R Gregg
1Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103-2714, USA.
Environmental Research
|June 14, 2003
Summary
Environmental lead exposure can increase aggressive behavior. This study used a feline model to show lead exposure causally enhances predatory aggression, supporting links to human aggression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Toxicology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Epidemiologic studies suggest a link between environmental lead exposure and childhood aggression.
- Confounding variables in human studies limit establishing a causal relationship.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that lead exposure causally increases aggression.
- To investigate lead's effects on aggression in a controlled animal model, minimizing confounding factors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a feline model to measure predatory attack threshold current.
- Administered controlled doses of lead (50-150 mg/kg/day) via cat food.
- Monitored blood lead concentrations and attack thresholds before, during, and after lead exposure.
Main Results:
- Predatory attack threshold significantly decreased during lead exposure in 3 of 5 cats.
- Thresholds increased after lead cessation in 4 of 5 cats (P<0.01).
- Inverse correlation observed between blood lead levels and attack thresholds (r=-0.35 to -0.74).
Conclusions:
- Lead exposure enhances predatory aggression in cats.
- Provides experimental evidence supporting a causal link between lead exposure and aggressive behavior.
