The influence of lead on the protein metabolism of the brain

Female rats were poisoned with a blood lead level of 30 micrograms/100 ml. 60 days after starting poisoning the animals were paired. The cronic lead treatment was continued even after birth. By this way the newborns were poisoned via mother's milk and 3 weeks later lead poisoned dry food was given until the animals had reached of body weight of 150--180 g. Then they were injected 8.33 mCi 3H leucine and killed at 1, 7, 24, 48 hours and ten days later. Comparing with unpoisoned control animals the lead treated show partly striking differences in the incorporation rates of 3H leucine. The differences were evident within the cornu ammonis, dentate fascia, precentral gyrus and frontal gyrus. In order to get further informations histochemical reactions were performed. Excepted the reaction of alpha-naphtylesterase all reactions were changed by lead-treatment of the animals: acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, cytochrome-c-oxidase and acetylcholine esterase.