Summary: Chronic exposure to lead is associated with adverse effects on renal function in laboratory animals and man. There is controversy concerning the direction of change of renal function parameters following chronic lead intoxication. The renal effects of low-dose lead exposure, as opposed to acute and pharmacological doses, require further scrutiny. In order to determine the effect of prolonged lowdose lead exposure, male Sprague Dawley rats (initial weight, 150.5±17.4g; final weight, 300.5±17.4g; n=10) administered lead acetate (100 p.p.m.) in drinking water over a period of 3 months, were investigated for renal function parameters. Treated rats had elevated blood pressures (114.4±4.2 vs. 95.7±3.5 mmHg; P<0.01). There was no significant difference in renal blood flow (3.99±0.28 vs. 4.19±0.63 ml/min; P=NS). GFR was comparable in the two groups (0.77±0.05 vs. 0.88±0.06 ml/min; P=NS). No significant difference in serum creatinine was observed (57.8±7.5 vs. 49.0±2.7 μmol/l; P=NS). Renal histology showed minimal interstitial changes in the experimental group. Interestingly, significant sodium (P<0.01); potassium (P<0.05) and chloride (P<0.05) retention were observed in the lead treated rats. Elevation of blood pressure occurred at a stage when low-level lead exposure did not alter renal function parameters appreciably. These results suggest that hypertension may be a forerunner of significant renal damage following chronic exposure to low-levels of lead and further underscore fluid and electrolyte retention as a significant mechanism responsible for elevated blood pressure in the chronic stages of lead exposure.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.