THE INFLUENCE OF THE LEAD INTOXICATION OF MALE ALBINO RATS ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THEIR OFFSPRING

Abstract

Introduction. Lead is one of the priority factors of the environment, highly hazardous to human health and causing the greatest concern due to the accumulation in the environment. The paper presents the results of the studying the influence of lead on genotoxicity and motor activity of posterity of white rats obtained from males exposed to lead acetate. The aim of the study was to explore the effects of lead acetate action on the behavior of the offspring of the first two generations of male albino rats and to reveal the genotoxic effect. Material and methods. Male albino rats received daily lead acetate with drinking water for 7 weeks (60 mg/kg). Obtained after mating with intact females first generation offspring (males) were tested in an “open field” and the presence of DNA comets in the sex cells of the testes and nervous tissue was determined. Then the males were exposed to lead acetate in the same dose and after mating with intact females, the male offspring of the second generation was tested according to a similar scheme. In all animals receiving a lead, its content in blood and testes was determined. Results. The results of the conducted research showed that under the influence of lead acetate on male rats, the transgenerational effect was manifested in animals of the first two generations in the form of changes in the structure of behavior having a different orientation - a decrease in motor and research activity in the first generation and an increase in the second generation. The DNA comet study revealed no DNA damage in sperm cells in animals exposed to lead neither in their offspring. Along with this, the results of the study of the degree of DNA damage in animal brain cells showed a significant increase in DNA damage in the first generation after the exposure to lead. Discussion. The effect of lead acetate on adult male albino rats leads to the formation of disturbances in motor and research component of behavior and also causes an increase in DNA damage in brain cells in first and second generations.