John R Martin
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»
