Measuring the effect of perinatal lead exposure on learning ability of offspring is considered as a sensitive and selective index for providing an early marker for central nervous system damage produced by this toxic metal. A total of 35 Sprague-Dawley adult rats were used to investigate the effect of lead acetate toxicity on behavioral patterns of adult female rats and learning ability of offspring. Rats were allotted into 4 groups, group one received 1g/l lead acetate (n=10), group two received 1.5g/l lead acetate (n=10), group three received 2g/l lead acetate in drinking water (n=10) and control group did not receive lead acetate (n=5) from 8 day of pregnancy till weaning of pups. The obtained results revealed a dose dependent increase in the feeding time, drinking frequency, licking frequency, scratching frequency, licking litters, nest building and retrieving frequencies, while standing time increased significantly in rats treated with 1.5g/l lead acetate than other treated groups and control, on contrary lying time decreased gradually in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, movement activities were higher in rats treated with 1g/l lead acetate than other treated groups and control. Furthermore, time spent in closed arms was significantly lower in rats given 2g/l lead acetate than other treated groups, while, they spent significantly much time spent in open arms than other treated groups which could be attributed to occurrence of adaptation. Furthermore, number of entries in open arms was dose dependent. However, the ratio between open/closed arms revealed a significant decrease in rats treated with 2g/l lead acetate than control group. Keywords—Lead toxicity, rats, learning ability, behavior.

Changes in Behavior and Learning Ability of Rats Intoxicated with Lead

This study was designed to investigate the effect of chronic administration of lead (Pb) on feeding behavior and weight gain among Wistar albino rats. 14 male subjects of randomly selected rats were used in the experiment. The rats were divided into two groups with 7 rats constituting each group. The groups are saline group and lead (Pb) group. The lead (Pb) administered was given orally at 10mg/kg of body weight. In the study feeding behaviour was not significantly affected by the treatment of lead (Pb). However, lead (Pb) administration had a significant effect on weight gain at p< .01 while the experimental (Pb) group had the lower mean weight signifying weight loss. This result signaled the danger in the ingestion of Lead (Pb) in whatever form on the health of animals (man inclusive) especially on feeding behaviour and weight gain. It was suggested that government and other concerned agencies should address how to control the ingestion of lead in

Effect of Chronic Administration of Lead (Pb) On Feeding Behavior and Weight Gain among Wistar Albino Rats

Rats exposed to lead (lead acetate) in doses of 0.2 and 0.5 mg/ml in drinking water for a period of 90 days showed mild to moderate changes in food consumption compared to control group. Drug interactions in lead exposed rats with metoclopramide, atropine sulphate, propranolol, cyproheptadine and mepyramine maleate when administered intraperitoneally caused -30 to +30 percentage variation in food intake indicating the influence of adrenergic, serotonergic and cholinergic neurotransmitters with no change in mean body weight of lead treated rats.

Panchal Gm

Papers

Effect of lead on anorexia and body weight in albino rats.