Effect of inorganic lead on some functions of the cerebral microvessel endothelium

The effect of inorganic lead on two functions of cerebral microvessel endothelium, cell division and glucose analog uptake, was investigated. Lead concentrations considered to be toxic in humans inhibited both functions in cultured endothelial cells. Both effects were dependent on the length of lead exposure and dose over the range of 10(-4) to 10(-6) M lead acetate. After 4 days of exposure there were 76% fewer cells in 10(-4) M lead-exposed cultures relative to control cultures. After 4 days of exposure to 10(-5) M lead there were 55% fewer cells, and after 10(-6) M lead exposure there were 15% fewer cells. Two days after 10(-4) M lead exposure [methyl-3H]thymidine incorporation into endothelial cells was inhibited by 71%. Incorporation was inhibited 47% by 10(-5) M lead but 10(-6) M lead did not inhibit incorporation after 2 days of exposure. Glucose analog uptake was inhibited in both contact-inhibited and log-phase cells; however, the latter were more sensitive to lead and this increased sensitivity correlated with a higher lead content in this cell population. Both the specific carrier-mediated and the nonspecific components of glucose analog uptake were inhibited by exposure of the endothelial cells to lead. A lead exposure of 40 min produced a significant effect on the uptake mechanism. In order to manifest its effects the lead had to be present in serum-containing medium, suggesting that some serum component was necessary to present the lead to the endothelial cells. These findings imply that the initial target of inorganic lead in the CNS may be the plasma membrane of the capillary endothelial cells, and that lead may act by altering the physiological function of these membranes.