Lead as an inductor of some morphological and functional changes in synaptosomes from rat brain

1. The effect of lead (in vivo) on the uptake of GABA, dopamine, and histidine as a precursor of histamine in synaptosomes obtained from chronically lead-treated rats was studied. 2. Lead decreased the uptake of GABA, increased the uptake of dopamine, and did not change the uptake of histidine. These effects were independent of calcium concentration. 3. Lead administration to the rat changed the morphology of the synaptosomes, as manifested in the decreased number of synaptic vesicles and disturbed mitochondrial structure. 4. The results suggest the existence of several mechanisms of lead toxicity on uptake, related to individual neurotransmitters, which are not necessarily connected with a Pb2+/Ca2+ interaction.