Effects of ovariectomy and orchiectomy on lead-induced mortality in rats

Young adult rats were administered a single injection of lead acetate. For each group the median-effective dose (LD₅₀) was determined on the 2nd, 4th, and 8th day following treatment. Female rats demonstrated greater LD₅₀ values than comparably treated males of the same age. Rats that were ovariectomized 1 week prior to the lead insult appear to be more vulnerable to lead toxicity than their sham-operated controls. For the male groups, however, there were no apparent differences in mortality responses to lead acetate injection between orchiectomized and sham-operated rodents.