Effects of Blood Lead Levels on Cognitive Function of Older Women

Muldoon, Susan B.; Cauley, Jane A.; Kuller, Lewis H.; Morrow, Lisa A.; Needleman, Herbert L.; Scott, Jean M.; Hooper, Frank J.

doi:10.1159/000109891

Cited by 68 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Although these observations are convincing, the conclusion that the adult nervous system is no longer sensitive to low concentrations of lead or PCBs may not be true. Muldoon et al (18) found that elderly women with blood lead levels ≥8 µg/L performed more poorly on a cognitive test than women with blood lead levels ≤3 µg/dL. Cognitive decrements have been repeatedly shown after occupational exposure to lead (19).…”

Section: Lead and Pcbs Both Have Similar Effects With Acute And Chronmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Electrophysiologic and behavioral effects of perinatal and acute exposure of rats to lead and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Carpenter

Hussain

Berger

et al. 2002

Environ Health Perspect

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Lead and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) both cause a reduction of intelligence quotient and behavioral abnormalities in exposed children that have features in common with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. We have used rats as a model to study the effects of both perinatal and acute exposure to lead or PCBs in an effort to compare and understand the mechanisms of these nervous system decrements. Long-term potentiation (LTP) is an electrophysiologic measurement that correlates well with cognitive ability. We have determined the effects of chronic perinatal exposure to lead or PCB 153 as well as acute application of these substances to isolated brain slices, with recordings in two areas of the hippocampus, CA1 and CA3. Both substances, whether chronically or acutely applied, significantly reduced LTP in CA1 in animals at age 30 and 60 days. In CA3, they reduced LTP in 30-day animals but potentiated it in 60-day animals. Although neither lead nor PCB 153 alters baseline synaptic transmission at low stimulus strengths, at higher levels they induce changes in the same direction as those of LTP. These results show surprisingly similar actions of these quite different chemicals, and the similarity of effects on chronic and acute application indicates that effects are both pharmacologic and developmental. Behavioral studies of rats exposed to PCBs from contaminated fish show hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and increased frustration relative to unexposed controls. These results demonstrate that lead and PCBs have similar effects on synaptic plasticity and behavior and suggest that the compounds may act through a common mechanism. Key words: brain slice, extinction, frustration, hippocampus, hyperactivity, input-output curves, long-term potentiation, perinatal exposure.

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Section: Lead and Pcbs Both Have Similar Effects With Acute And Chronmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Perinatal exposure to other substances such as methyl mercury (14), pesticides (15), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (16,17) causes similar reductions in IQ and disruption of behavior. Adult exposures to lead (18,19) and PCBs (20) at concentrations that do not cause obvious neuronal cell death have also been reported to reduce cognitive function.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrophysiologic and behavioral effects of perinatal and acute exposure of rats to lead and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Carpenter

Hussain

Berger

et al. 2002

Environ Health Perspect

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“…Blood lead (B-Pb) concentrations as low as 0.48 pmolll have been associated with adverse effects on behavior and development in children (1). Furthermore, recent data suggest that B-Pb concentrations of about 0.38 pmolll may be associated with decreased cognitive function in postmenopausal women (2).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of blood lead concentrations in the lead-free gasoline era

Nielsen¹,

Grandjean²,

Jørgensen³

1998

Scand J Work Environ Health

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Nielsen JB, Grandjean P, Jsrgensen PJ. Predictors of blood lead concentrations in the lead-free gasoline era. Scand J Work Envi ron Heal th 1998;24(2):153--6.Objectives Blood lead concentrations in a Danish reference population were related to information from an extensive questionnaire on work, environment, and life-style. Methods Data were gathered for 209 persons by means of a questionnaire and blood lead analyses. Results The mean concentration of lead in blood was 0.167 ymolll (ie, significantly lower than in previous studies). This finding is in accordance with the fact that less than 10% of the gasoline used in Denmark contains lead additives (up to 0.15 gll). An important finding was that the well-documented predictors for lead in blood at higher concentration levels, such as age, gender, menopausal status, and intake of alcohol, are still valid in a low-level exposure situation. In addition, a strong and negative correlation was found between blood lead concentrations and dietary supplementation with vitamins and minerals. C O~C~U S~O~S The present data indicate that lead exposure may still constitute a health risk in a small proportion of adult men and postmenopausal women.

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“…Conceivably, any alterations in barriers' structural or functional integrity may impair the normal brain function. Pb exposure is known to produce irreversible neurotoxicity (Muldoon et al, 1996;Schwartz et al, 2000;Stollery, 1996), particularly in young children (Bellinger, 2004;Bressler et al, 1999;Cory-Schlecta and Schaumburg, 2000). The high vulnerability of children's brain to Pb toxicity could be partly attributed to the less welldeveloped brain barrier system, or a possibly high sensitivity of their BBB to Pb insults.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Iron supplement prevents lead-induced disruption of the blood–brain barrier during rat development

Wang

Luo

Zheng

et al. 2007

Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

100

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Children are known to be venerable to lead (Pb) toxicity. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) in immature brain is particularly vulnerable to Pb insults. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that Pb exposure damaged the integrity of the BBB in young animals and iron (Fe) supplement may prevent against Pb-induced BBB disruption. Male weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Three groups of rats were exposed to Pb in drinking water containing 342 μg Pb/mL as Pb acetate, among which two groups were concurrently administered by oral gavage once every other day with 7 mg Fe/kg and 14 mg Fe/kg as FeSO 4 solution as the low and high Fe treatment group, respectively, for 6 weeks. The control group received sodium acetate in drinking water. Pb exposure significantly increased Pb concentrations in blood by 6.6-folds (p<0.05) and brain tissues by 1.5-2.0-folds (p<0.05) as compared to controls. Under the electron microscope, Pb exposure in young animals caused an extensive extravascular staining of lanthanum nitrate in brain parenchyma, suggesting a leakage of cerebral vasculature. Western blot showed that Pb treatment led to 29-68% reduction (p<0.05) in the expression of occludin as compared to the controls. Fe supplement among Pb-exposed rats maintained the normal ultrastructure of the BBB and restored the expression of occludin to normal levels. Moreover, the low dose Fe supplement significantly reduced Pb levels in blood and brain tissues. These data suggest that Pb exposure disrupts the structure of the BBB in young animals. The increased BBB permeability may facilitate the accumulation of Pb. Fe supplement appears to protect the integrity of the BBB against Pb insults, a beneficial effect that may have significant clinical implications.

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Effects of Blood Lead Levels on Cognitive Function of Older Women

Cited by 68 publications

References 30 publications

Electrophysiologic and behavioral effects of perinatal and acute exposure of rats to lead and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Electrophysiologic and behavioral effects of perinatal and acute exposure of rats to lead and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Predictors of blood lead concentrations in the lead-free gasoline era

Iron supplement prevents lead-induced disruption of the blood–brain barrier during rat development

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