• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.211-223
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• 1986

In this experiment forty-eight Sprague Dawley male rats were chosen and used in order to measure the growth rates and to see the effects of lead acumulation in their organs resulting from variously controlled lead protein diet. Protein sources were casein and isolated soyprotein (ISP), and each source was divided into three groups : 7% low protein [LP], 20% standard protein (SP) and 40% high protein (HP) groups. The six experimental groups were given lead acetate(25 mg/kg B.W.) and six control groups were given sodium chloride by oral administration 6 times a week for weeks. The results from this experiment were summeraized as following ; 1) Food consumption, weight gain, organ weight and food efficiency ; Lead acetate administration with protein source had no effects on food consumption, weight gain and organ weight . By their different levels of protein, food consumption of LP group was less the that of SP and HP groups after 3 weeks, weight gain of LP group was less than that of SP and HO groups after 1 weeks. The organ weight in LP group was significantly lower than SP and HP groups except teeth and adrenal s. Effect of lead acetate administration on food efficiency have significantly lower in LP-ISP diet and HP -casein diet than other groups only first week. By their different levels LP group showed significantly lower than SP group until 3 weeks. 2) Hematopoietic effect ; The hematopoieteic effect was not influencec by lead acdtate administration and protein source. But the LP group showed a significantly lowe hematopoietic effect than the SP, HP, groups. 3) Accumulation of lead in the liver, kidney, teeth by protein source showed no significantly differences. Accumulation of lead in blood, heart of LP group, spleen of LP and HP groups. femur of SP and HP groups fed with casein diet groups were significantly higher than fed with ISP diet groups. By their different levels of group showed generally higher than SP and HP groups. But accumulation of lead in teeth of HP group was high also.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2020

Objective: Oxidative stress has been suggested as a possible mechanism for the adverse effects of heavy metal toxicity on male reproduction. Cichorium intybus L. is used in Iranian folk medicine as a hepatoprotective agent as well as for its supposed fertility-enhancing properties. The present study was performed to investigate whether the ethanolic extract of C. intybus leaves could protect male rats against lead-induced testicular oxidative stress. Methods: In this experimental study, adult Wistar rats were treated with 0.1% lead acetate in drinking water alone or with 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg body weight of C. intybus extract via gavage once daily for 70 days. The weight of their reproductive organs, levels of serum hormones, histometric parameters of the seminiferous tubules, epidydimal sperm quality, and oxidative stress status were evaluated. Results: The testis weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, epididymal sperm count, serum testosterone level, and testicular levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly reduced (p< 0.05) in the lead-treated rats. Moreover, significantly (p< 0.05) higher levels of malondialdehyde were observed in the lead-exposed group compared to the control. However, the co-administration of C. intybus ethanolic extract in lead-treated rats was associated with a significant improvement in reproductive parameters. Conclusion: We conclude that C. intybus leaf extract has the potential to prevent lead-induced testicular toxicity and to suppress the adverse effects of lead on male reproductive health.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2002

For investigation of the activated carbon in the rat liver toxicated by lead. Aniamls used $7{\sim}8$ weeks to Sparague-Dewley rat (150 g). The lead acetate (500 ppm) were injected and activated carbon (40 mg/kg) were treated orally for four and eight weeks, respectivelly, and observed by the electron microscope. The group with only lead for 4 weeks, The mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) were extended and ribosomes dropped from the rER. The group with lead-activated carbon for 4 weeks, The number of lysosomes increased. The shapes of nucleus and rough endoplasmic reticulum observed almost similar with nomally. The group with only lead for 8 weeks, The mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) were more extended. The group with lead-activated carbon for 8 weeks, the nucleus and rough endoplasmic reticulum was observed nomally.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.255-262
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the physiological changes induced acutely with the low doses of lead acetate in the synaptosomes from the cerebrum and brain stem of the rat. The general uptake patterns of [$^3$H]-serotonin were observed in synaptosomes, as a model of presynaptic nerve terminal, from the cerebrum and brain stem. And the effects of the low doses of lead acetate on the uptake process were investigated id vitro and in vivo. The Km value of the uptake of the [$^3$H]-serotonin by the synaptosomes was 0.5 $\mu$M in the cerebrum and 0.1 $\mu$M in the brain stem. These low values reveal that the synaptosomes from the cerebrum and the brain stem have a high affinity to [$^3$H]-serotonin, especially in brain stem. The uptake of $\mu$M-serotonin was dependant on the sodium and potassium ions. When being treated with ouabain, the $Na^+$ $-K^+$ ATPase inhibitor, the uptake of [$^3$H]-serotonin was reduced. This supports strongly that the uptake of [$^3$H]-serotonin was sensitive to the changes of the concentrations of the sodium and potassium ions. When the calcium channel blocker, verapamil, was treated, the uptake of [$^3$H]-serotonin was changed only in synaptosomes from the brain stem. The uptake of [$^3$H]-serotonin was reduced by the lead treatment in the synaptosomes from the cerebrum and brain stem in vitro and in vivo. [lead acetate, synaptosomes, $^3$H-serotonin, rat]

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.55-71
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• 1987

To investigate the effects of lead on the electron transport system and ultrastructure of mouse kidney mitochondria, various lead acetate concentrations were treated in vitro and respiration rate, enzyme activities were measured. Ultrastructural changes at state IV respiration were also observed. To compare with in vivo experiments, mouse were injected intraperitoneally of 100 mg lead acetate per kg body weight and state IV respiration rate and enzyme activities were measured. Ultrastructure of renal proximal tubular cells were also observed. In in vitro treatement, decreased state IV respiration, decreased enzyme activities, ruptured membranes and inhibition of condensed to orthodox transformation were observed. In in vivo treatment, decreased state IV respiration and decreased enzyme activities were observed after 24 hrs of i.p. injection. Cytochrome c oxidase activity showed twice the inhibition compared to NADH-CoQ reductase activity at 24 hrs. Continuous decreased state IV respiration was observed after 48 and 72 hrs of injection, however, the enzyme activities were increased to control level. Lead-protein complex which probably inhibits the toxic effects of lead appeared. To conclude, dominant effect of lead on the electron transport system appeared at cytochrome c oxidase activity, and the increased enzyme activities may be a result of appearance of lead-protein complex.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.41-54
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• 1987

This experiment was performed to investigate the acute and chronic effects of lead on cerebral cortex. In acute treatment, mouse were injected with lead acetate at dose of 0.3 mmole/kg body weight, and in chronic treatment, mouse were supplied 0.03 M lead acetate sol. in the place of water. After treatment, mouse were sacrificed at time intervals of 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours in acute treatment and at time intervals of 4 weeks and 8 weeks in chronic treatment. In acute treatment, acetylcholinesterase activity is reduced at 72 hours and recovered at 96 hours in homogenate, and reduced at 24 hours and recovered at 72 hours in crude synaptosomes. In chronic treatment, acetylcholinesterase activity is increased in young mouse but reduced in mother mouse. Ultrastructural changes were composed of swelling of Golgi apparatus, nerve terminals with diminished synaptic vesicles, and vacuolated myeline lamellae of myelinated axon.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.211-211
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• 1996

Changes in glutamate release and uptake on cerebellar cells after the chronic exposure to lead were investigated. Rats were received 0.25% lead acetate in drinking water from the beginning of the pregnancy. The control group was given 0.125% sodium acetate in drinking water. The cerebellar cells from 7 or 8 day-old pups were cultured. Amino acid release from cerebellar granule cells and the glutamate uptake into cerebellar glial cells were measured using HPLC-ECD. Basal glutamate release and NMDA-induced glutamate release didn't show significant difference. However, the other amino acids in the granule cells obtained from lead exposed pups were less released than the control after the stimulation by NMDA (50$\mu$M). SNAP-induced (50$\mu$M) glutamate release was significantly reduced in granule cells prepared from lead exposed pups. The basal glutamate uptake in glial cells didn't show any difference. However, the uptake in glial cells prepared from lead exposed pups was significantly less blocked by PDC (24$\mu$M) compared to the control group. These results indicate that lead exposure to the mother might affect the Excitatory amino acid system during the development of the offspring.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.335-335
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• 1994

Possibility whether lead ingestion can cause selective toxicity to central serotonergic nervous system in rats was tested. Three groups of wistar rats; 1)Control, 2) Low dose and 3) High dose groups, were prepared. In prenatally lead-exposed rats, until parturition from dams, rat pups were intoxicated via placenta of mother rats having received drinking water containing either 0%(control ), 0.05%(low dose) or 0.2%(high dose) of lead acetate respectively, In postnatally lead-exposed rats, right after parturition from dams rat pups received drinking water containing either 0％ (control), 0.05%(low dose) or 0.2％(high dose) of lead acetate. At 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age, tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) activity and Na$\^$+//K$\^$+/-ATPase activity were measured in 4 areas of rat brain; Telencephalon, Diencephalon, Midbrain and Pons/Medulla. TPH activities were assayed by modified method of Beevers et al. (1983) using L-(5-$^3$H)-tryptophan as substrate. TPH activity was determined as a criterion of lead poisoning to central serotonergic nervous system and Na$\^$+//K$\^$+/-ATPase activity as a criterion of non specific lead poisoning to any kinds of tissues. Selective toxicity of lead poisoning to central serotonergic nervous system was evaluated by the changes of TPH activities without concomitant changes of Na$\^$+//K$\^$+/-ATPase activities. In prenatally lead-exposed rats. this selectivity was found in Telencephalon (2 weeks of age), Diencephalon/Midbrain (2 weeks of age), Midbrain (4 and 6 weeks of age), Pons/Medulla (2, 4 and 6 weeks of age) In rats exposed to low dose of lead and Pons/Medulla (2 weeks of age) to high dose of lead. In postnatal Iy lead-exposed rats, this selectivity was found in Telencephalon (8 weeks of age), Diencephalon(8 weeks of age), Pons/Medulla (6 and 8 weeks of age) in rats exposed to low dose of lead and Pons/Medulla (8 weeks of age) to high dose of lead. These results suggest that lead poisoning may exhibit selective toxicity to central serotonergic nervous system.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.205-214
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• 2003

To investigate the effect of the squalene against the lead toxicity. A healthy male of ICR mice were used for experiment. The SOD was observed after the intraperitoneal injection in mice. The ultrastructural changes of the liver were observed after the intraperitoneal injection in mice. The experimental groups were divided into two groups. Group A was control group that squalene was not treated after intraperitoneal injection of lead acetate. Group B was squalene treatment group that squalene solution was injected after intraperitoneal injection of lead acetate. All groups were used to 10 mice. The results were as follow: SOD activity in the liver, Group A was lower than in normal. But, Group B was higher than in Group A (P<0.05). In the histological observation, Group A were showed that the inner cavity of mitochondria swellen and development of cristae weakened. Swelling of lamellae of rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) was showed. It was concluded that the SQ will be effective for the recovery of hepatic cell at lead intoxication.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.207-215
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• 1993

Lead is an environmental toxicant that causes a marked deficit in cognative development in infants and children. Damage to the hippocampus has been linked to the lead-induced deficit in the learning process. The present study examined the effects of lead on the development of hippocampal neurons in vitro. Hippocampal neurons were incubated with various concentrations in lead acetate (1nM to 30 nM) for 72 hrs from 4 h after plating, and the percentage of living neurons bearing neurites, neurite outgrowth and migration of multipolar neurons in culture were determined.