Assessment of Lead Acetate Effects on Sensory Reactions in Rats

Abstract

Neurotoxicity is a manifestation of intoxication with lead compounds. When developing new drugs for the treatment of lead poisoning, modern methods for assessing the neurotoxic effect of such compounds are of great importance. In view of this, we aimed to study long-term manifestations of lead neurotoxicity using a computerized test system for quantitative assessment of the startle reflex in laboratory animals – the TSE Startle Response System (“TSE”, Germany). Outbred male rats weighing 180–220 g were selected as a test system. The animals were randomized into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received a single intraperitoneal injection of lead acetate at a dose of 300 mg/kg. In the surviving animals, sensory responses were assessed on days 3 and 29 using the neurophysiological test of response to a sudden stimulus, the Startle Response System. In both the shortand long-term periods of acute lead intoxication, a decrease in responses to light, noise, and electrical pain stimuli was noted, which may be a consequence of lead accumulation in brain tissue.