cyclic-gmp and Lead-Poisoning

The results of this study confirm that low lead (0.01%) but not high lead (0.5%) administration results in increased blood pressure in rats treated for up to 12 months. This effect appeared to be related to an imbalance of endothelially-derived vasoconstrictor and vasodilator compounds in low lead-treated animals but not in high lead-treated animals. In low lead-treated rats, measurement of plasma endothelins 1 and 3 (ET-1 and ET-3) revealed that ET-3 concentration increased significantly after both 3 months (Experimental, 92.1 +/- 9.7 v Control, 46.7 +/- 12.0 pmol/mL; P < .001) and 12 months (Experimental, 105.0 +/- 9.3 v Control, 94.1 +/- 5.0 pmol/mL; P < .01) while ET-1 was unaffected. Plasma and urinary cGMP concentrations (as a reflection of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF)) decreased significantly at 3 months (plasma, Experimental, 1.8 +/- 0.9 v Control, 4.2 +/- 1.6 pmol/mL; P < .001) and 12 months (plasma, Experimental, 2.2 +/- 0.7 v Control, 4.2 +/- 0.9 pmol/mL; P < .001). Thus, the path to development of hypertension in low lead rats may be through an increase in the concentration of the vasoconstrictor hormone, ET-3, and a decrease in the vasodilator hormone, EDRF. High levels of lead exposure did not result in hypertension, perhaps because plasma concentrations of ET-1, ET-3 and cGMP were unaltered at 3 months, while ET-1, ET-3 and cGMP concentrations were coordinately and significantly decreased at 12 months.

Topics: Animals; Arteries; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Blood Pressure; Cyclic GMP; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Endothelins; Endothelium, Vascular; Hypertension; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Nitric Oxide; Norepinephrine; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase

Electroretinographic (ERG), morphometric and biochemical studies on retinas from monkeys or rats reveal that moderate level developmental lead (Pb) exposure produces long-term selective rod deficits and degeneration. The present studies determined whether similar alterations occur following low level developmental Pb exposure. Long-Evans rats, exposed to Pb only via dam's milk from parturition to weaning, had mean blood Pb of 18.8 micrograms/dl at weaning and 6.6 micrograms/dl at 90 days of age. Morphometric and ultrastructural studies revealed no signs of rod loss or degeneration although the presence of glycogen in some rod mitochondria suggests the occurrence of a metabolic dysfunction. Retinal sensitivity and rhodopsin content per eye were decreased in a manner such that, they followed the established log-linear relationship. A- and b-wave voltage- and latency-log intensity functions, generated from single-flash ERGs in fully dark-adapted rats, revealed that low level Pb exposure caused a 25% and 15% decrease in mean amplitude, a 0.5 and a 0.5 log unit decrease in absolute sensitivity, and a 23% and 16% increase in mean latency, respectively. Scotopic (rod-mediated) and photopic (cone-mediated) flicker fusion frequency measures revealed selective rod deficits. Adult rats had a 15% inhibition of retinal cGMP-phosphodiesterase resulting in a 19% and 12% increase in cGMP in dark- and light-adapted states, respectively. The above data confirm and extend our previous studies conducted in rats with blood lead levels of 59 micrograms/dl during development. The rhodopsin and cyclic nucleotide metabolism data, as well as our recent data showing an inhibition of retinal Na+, K(+)-ATPase, are entirely consistent with the observed ERG changes. The fact that rat rods are similar to monkey and human rods suggests the relevance and applicability of these data to low level pediatric Pb poisoning. Thus, these data suggest that alterations in rod sensitivity and temporal processing may occur in children exposed to low levels of lead during perinatal development.

Topics: Animals; Cyclic GMP; Electroretinography; Female; Lead Poisoning; Microscopy, Electron; Photoreceptor Cells; Rats; Rhodopsin; Rod Cell Outer Segment; Sensitivity and Specificity; Time Factors

Topics: 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; Animals; Body Weight; Brain; Cyclic GMP; Female; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Homovanillic Acid; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Motor Activity; Neurotransmitter Agents; Pregnancy; Rats