Triethyllead-restrained myelin deposition and protein synthesis in the developing rat forebrain

Abstract

20-day-old rats were acutely intoxicated with triethyllead (PbEt 3). The forebrains of the poisoned and control animals were analyzed on postpartum days 27 or 34, or both. Two myelin subfractions, namely membrane- and myelin-fraction, were isolated. In the forebrains of PbEt 3-treated rats, the deposition of the membrane-fraction was hampered to a greater extent than the deposition of the myelin-fraction. The intoxication caused a significant reduction in the concentration of sulphatides in the myelin-fraction. How-ever, in spite of sulphatides, the intoxication did not influence the protein or lipid content of either subfraction. A close correlation between the degree of inhibition of myelin deposition and of synthesis of myelin proteins was demonstrated in the forebrains of PbEt 3-intoxicated rats. On the other hand, the synthesis of total forebrain protein was less depressed than the synthesis of myelin or its proteins, suggesting greater vulnerability of the myelin-forming cells than other cells in the brain tissue toward PbEt 3-induced intoxication.