Air Quality Criteria for Lead Volume II of II - (NEPIS)(EPA) - US ...

AX5-52
Table AX5-4.2 (cont’d). Effect of Lead on Reproduction and Development in Mammals Effects on Males
Citation Species/ Strain/Age Dose/Route/Form/Duration Endpoint
Ronis et al.
(1998b)
Ronis et al.
(1998c) †
Sant'Ana
et al. (2001)
Saxena et al.
(1984)
Saxena et al.
(1986)
Saxena et al.
(1987)
Rat/Sprague-
Dawley, adult
Rat/Sprague-
Dawley, adult
Rat/Wistar, 90 days
old
Rat/ITRC, albino
(NOS), 12 wks old
Rat/ITRC, albino
(NOS), 40–50 g
Rat/Wistar, 40–50 g
Pb acetate in drinking water
(0.05% to 0.45% w/v); dams
exposed until weaning,
exposure of pups which
continued until PND 21, 35,
55, or 85; 5 control litters
(0%), 10 low-dose litters
(0.05%), 8 mid-dose litters
(0.15%), 9 high-dose litters
(0.45%); 4 male and 4 female
pups per litter
Pb acetate 0.05, 0.15, or
0.45% in drinking water
beginning GD 5 continuing
until PND 21, 35, 55, or 85;
5 control litters (0%), 10 lowdose
litters (0.05%), 8 middose
litters (0.15%), 9 highdose
litters (0.45%); 4 male
and 4 female pups per litter
0.1 and 1% Pb acetate in
drinking water for 7 days
8 mg/kg Pb acetate i.p. for
15 days
5, 8, or 12 mg Pb+2/kg Pb
acetate i.p. for 15 days
8 mg Pb2/kg-d Pb acetate i.p.
for 100 days (from PND 21 to
PND 120)
Dose-response reduction in birth weight (p < 0.05), more pronounced in male pups;
decreased growth rates in both sexes (p < 0.05) were accompanied by a statistically
significant decrease in plasma concentrations of IGF1 through puberty PND 35 and
55 (p < 0.05); increase in pituitary growth hormone during puberty (p < 0.05).
Dose-responsive decrease in birth weight (p < 0.05); dose-responsive decrease in
crown-to-rump length (p < 0.05); dose-dependent delay in sexual maturity (p < 0.05);
decrease in prostate weight (p < 0.05); decrease in plasma concentration of
testosterone during puberty (p < 0.05); decrease in plasma LH (p < 0.05); elevated
pituitary LH content (p < 0.05); decrease in plasma testosterone/LH ratio at high dose
(p < 0.05).
0.1% Pb caused decrease in testis weight, an increase in seminal vesicle weight and
no changes in plasma testosterone levels, hypothalamic VMA levels were increased
compared to control group.
Histoenzymic and histological alterations in the testes; degeneration of seminiferous
tubules; patchy areas showing marked loss in the activity of succinic dehydrogenase
and adenosine triphosphatase, whereas alkaline phosphatase activity showed only
slight inhibition.
Increasing dose of Pb resulted in significant loss of body weight, as well as testicular
weight in groups 3 and 4; cholesterol in the testis of rats markedly decreased at all
given doses of Pb and was statistically significant in groups 3 and 4; in phospholipid
contents, the significant decrease was observed only at two highest doses, while at the
lowest dose the decrease was not significant; activity of ATPase remained unaffected
at all three doses of Pb; no significant increase in Pb content in the testis was noticed
at lower dose levels as compared to control; however, significant increase was found
in groups 3 and 4 which was dose dependent.
Disturbed spermatogenesis; Leydig cell degeneration; altered enzyme activity
(G6PDH).
Blood Lead Concentration
(PbB)
Mean PbB in offspring at 0.05%
(w/v) 49 ± 6 µg/dL
Mean PbB in offspring at 0.15%
(w/v) 126 ± 16 µg/dL
Mean PbB in offspring at 0.45%
(w/v) 263 ± 28 µg/dL
Dams: 0, 48, 88, or 181 µg/dL
Pups PND 1: