Neurochemical changes in newborn rat's brain after gestational cadmium and lead exposure.

Gestational administration of cadmium (10 mg/l) and lead (300 mg/l) produced a strong decrease in proteins at birth (-17%) and on day 5 (-31%) as well as in brain lipid amount on both days (-11 and -23%, respectively). At day 5 postnatal the exposure also produced a marked decrease in DNA and RNA concentrations with respect to the control group. On the other hand, we found a significant increase of indoleamine content in all brain areas studied in the cadmium-lead group and so the dopamine and its metabolite in mesencephalon, whereas dopamine levels in metencephalon decreased significantly. This data suggests that gestational and early lactational exposure to low dose of cadmium and lead could produce alterations in monoaminergic metabolism that can place the exposed animal to a significant risk in adulthood.