Study of the activity of several brain enzymes like markers of the neurotoxicity induced by perinatal exposure to lead and/or cadmium.

Five enzymes, considered keys to the correct function of the central nervous system (CNS) were chosen to study their utility as markers of the possible neurotoxic effects produced by the perinatal exposure to lead and/or cadmium. With this aim, lead acetate (300 mg/l) and/or cadmium acetate (10 mg/l) were administered to pregnant Wistar rats from day 1 of pregnancy to parturition (day 0) or until weaning (day 21). Brains were used to determine the activity of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), catalase (CAT), acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and ATP-ases (Na(+)/K(+) and Mg(2+)/Ca(2+) dependent). The general decrease of the activity of these enzymes observed after the treatment with heavy metals suggests that lead and cadmium are able to reach the CNS and impair its function by neurochemical changes. On the other hand, the results showed an increase of the activity of CAT; which possibly indicates that lead and cadmium might have other mechanisms of action, such as increasing oxidative damage in the CNS. Finally, the study of the effects produced by the simultaneous administration of lead and cadmium suggests that, in general, both metals exert an additive effect, either competing for the same inhibitory binding sites or increasing cellular damage. In conclusion, the study of the activity of enzymes is revealed as an effective method to measure the neurotoxicity induced by lead and cadmium.