Chad T Andicochea
Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune,
Department of Emergency Medicine, 100 Brewster Blvd, Camp Lejeune, NC 28547
Tanzania
Research Article
Effect of Exposure to Lead Acetate on Neurobehavior and Learning in the Kitten
Author(s): Chad T Andicochea, Ashley K Ramsey and John R MartinChad T Andicochea, Ashley K Ramsey and John R Martin
Objective: Elevated aggression and poor intelligence scores occur in children with BLLs (Blood Lead Levels) lower than 10 μg/dL while Pb-exposed cats show increased aggressive behavior with BLLs of 10 μg/dL. This increased aggression in cats may be associated with the development of hyper-spiny neurons observed in the motor cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum of kittens with BLLs<1.2 μg/dL. These results suggest that lead ingestion by kittens might result in learning and behavioral deficits similar to those observed in lead-burdened children.
Methods: To test this, kittens were treated (20 mg/kg/day, lead acetate or distil water via esophageal intubation) from Postnatal Day (PND) 1 to 7. At 8 and 10 weeks of age, the kittens were tested in a reversal T-maze, an open-fie.. View More»
