ABSTRACT
The effect of prenatal chronic lead exposure on pentylenetetrazol [PTZ]-induced kindling parameters [seizure index, seizure latency and seizure stage] in rats was studied. Adult female rats with a weight range of 140-180 g were selected and pretreated with lead acetate [0.05% w/v] orally, 25 days prior to mating. The control group was given distilled water containing sodium acetate solution [0.05% w/v]. After delivery, treatment was ceased, and after lactation, male neonates were separated from the females in both groups. After maturation of male rats, the PTZ-kindling was induced by daily interapritoneally injection of PTZ [30 mg/kg]. Kindling parameters in the control and treated groups were determined. The results indicated that animals with prenatal lead exposure have full kindling state with 9-19 [16.87 +/- 1.54] injections, whereas this value for control group was 12-23 [18.62 +/- 1.48] injections. The seizure latency for the treated group was lower [P<0.05] than the control [2.29 +/- 0.44 min versus 3.65 +/- 0.45 min]. The seizure severity [regarding to seizure index] was statistically higher in the treated group [P<0.05]. The seizure stages were also different in the treated and control groups [P<0.05]. The seizure frequency of first and second stages of kindling in the control group was higher than that of treated one [P<0.05]. Also the seizure frequency in the third and fourth kindling stages of case group was higher than controls [P<0.05]. It is concluded that prenatal lead exposure alters seizure susceptibility in rat PTZ-Kindling model