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Effects of chronic lead exposure on levels of acetylcholine and choline and on acetylcholine turnover rate in rat brain areas in vivo

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Abstract

Rats were exposed to lead acetate from birth, and were killed at the age of 44–51 days for analysis of levels and turnover rates of acetylcholine (ACh). Steady-state levels of ACh were not altered in midbrain, cortex, hippocampus, or striatum of lead-exposed rats. Similarly, no changes in choline (Ch) concentrations were found in cortex, hippocampus, or striatum. In the midbrain, however, a 30% reduction in Ch levels was observed. Changes in specific activity of Ch and ACh were measured as a function of time in selected brain areas of rats infused with a radio-labeled precursor of Ch. Specific activities of ACh were not altered. Ch specific activities were, however, significantly elevated in all brain areas examined, as compared with age-matched control rats. The in vivo ACh turnover rate in cortex, hippocampus, midbrain, and striatum was diminished by 35%, 54%, 51% and 33%, respectively. These findings provide direct evidence for an inhibitory effect of lead exposure from birth on central cholinergic function in vivo. Since a significant reduction of body weight was found in those animals treated with lead acetate, the alteration of central cholinergic function may partially be attributed to malnutrition observed in the lead-exposed animals.

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  1. Tsung-Ming Shih

    Present address: Biomedical Lab., Bldg. E-3100, 21010, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, USA

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  1. Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15261, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Tsung-Ming Shih & Israel Hanin

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Part of this work was presented in abstract form (Fed. Proc. 36. 977 (1977))

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Shih, TM., Hanin, I. Effects of chronic lead exposure on levels of acetylcholine and choline and on acetylcholine turnover rate in rat brain areas in vivo. Psychopharmacology 58, 263–269 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427389

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