Effect of administration of lead nitrate to pregnant rats on the lungs in their offspring.

Lead nitrate in a dose of 200 mg/kg was administered to female rats via a gartric tube on days 5 and 12 of pregnancy. The lungs of their offspring were examined on day 40 of life. We found a decrease in the ratio between the specific volumes of alveolar lumens and interalveolar septa and hypertrophy of lymphoid tissue in the bronchial wall (compared to the offspring of intact females). Chemiluminescent analysis revealed activation of lipid peroxidation and decrease in antioxidant antiradical activity of the lungs.