Progressive renal damage due to lead intoxication in early life

We have evaluated the effect of an increased body lead burden in young (3 weeks old) and adult (9 weeks old) Sprague-Dawley rats. Following intraperitoneal administration of lead on two occasions, both renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rates were diminished in the young rats, but not in the adult rats. Our study lends credence to the hypothesis that age at the time of exposure is critical to the development of progressive renal damage.