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Influence of chronic lead exposure on hormone levels in developing rats
A Vyskocil1, Z Fiala, E Ettlerová
1Charles University, Medical Faculty, Hradec Králové, Czechoslovakia.
Abstract:
The effect of five months' exposure to 0.5% lead acetate in drinking water on hormone levels of developing rats was studied. The hypothalamic and striatic concentrations of noradrenaline (NA) were decreased in both sexes. In female but not in male rats, blood and adrenal catecholamines and serum corticosterone concentrations were also increased. No changes were observed in serum thyroxine and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine levels. Our results indicate that female developing rats are more susceptible to lead than male rats. In female rats, both the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal and sympatho-adrenal systems seem to be affected by this lead exposure; in male rats, only the latter system is affected.