Effect of lead exposure on dopaminergic D2 receptor binding in the 21-day-old rat

The effect of lead on dopaminergic D2 receptor binding, as measured by butaclamol-displaceable [3H]domperidone binding, was studied in the 21-day-old lead-dosed rat. Maternal rats were dosed with 300 ppm and 1000 ppm Pb in drinking water from conception to weaning as previously described [1]. Samples of limbic forebrain and striatum were taken from 21-day-old offspring and assayed for dopamine D2-receptor binding, as outlined by Lazareno and Nahorski [2]. There was a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in body weight in the animals from which limbic forebrain samples were taken. There were no other significant effects of lead on body- or brain weight. Dopaminergic D2 receptor binding was unaffected by lead administration. These preliminary findings show that dopamine D2 receptor binding is not affected by lead at the doses and exposures used.