Lead doesn't spare the rod: low-level exposure supercharges retinal cell production in mice.

摘要

Low-level gestational lead exposure has been shown to increase the electrical response of the rod signaling pathway in the retinas of children, monkeys, and rats, which could in turn contribute to retinal disease. Now researchers demonstrate the phenomenon underlying this effect:increased proliferation of retinal progenitor cells, which give rise to functionally differentiated retinal cells that sense and transmit visual information [EHP 119(l):71-77; Giddabasappaet al.]. Using a previously described mouse model of low-level gestational lead exposure, the researchers set out to test the hypothesis that such exposure selectively increases rod photoreceptors and bipolar cells in the rod signaling pathway. (The rod signaling pathway detects gradations of light, as opposed to the cone signaling pathways, which detect colors.) Female mice were given water containing varying concentrations of lead: 0 ppm (control), 27 ppm ("low" dose), 55 ppm ("moderate" dose), or 109 ppm ("high" dose). The exposures were administered for 2 weeks before mating, during pregnancy, and through postnatal day 10-a model for the human gestation period. On postnatal day 10, unspiked water replaced die water-lead mixtures for all groups.