Perinatal exposure to lead: reduction in alterations of brain mitochondrial antioxidant system with calcium...

Lead (Pb) is a potent neurotoxicant that causes several neurochemical and behavioral alterations. Previous studies showed that the gestational and lactational exposure to Pb reduces the cholinergic and aminergic systems, and behavior of rats. The present study was designed to examine the protective effects of calcium supplementation against Pb-induced oxidative stress in cerebellum and hippocampus of brain at postnatal day (PND) 21, PND 28, PND 35, and PND 60. Pregnant rats were exposed to 0.2 % Pb (Pb acetate in drinking water) from gestational day 6 (GD 6) and pups were exposed through maternal milk till weaning (PND 21). We found that the activity of serum ceruloplasmin oxidase (Cp), mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), copper zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and xanthine oxidase (XO) enzyme activities were decreased, whereas the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased in the cerebellum and hippocampus of Pb-exposed rats. These changes were more prominent at PND 35 and greater in hippocampus compared to cerebellum. Among the enzyme activities, Mn-SOD and Cu/Zn-SOD showed maximum decrease compared to GPx, CAT, XO, and Cp. Furthermore, 0.02 % calcium supplementation together with 0.2 % Pb significantly reversed the Pb-induced alterations in the enzyme activities, and MDA levels. In conclusion, these data suggest that early life exposure to Pb induce alterations in the mitochondrial antioxidant system of brain regions which remain for long even after Pb exposure has stopped. Calcium supplementation may potentially be beneficial in treating Pb toxicity in the developing rat brain.