The effect of low level lead exposure on the postnatal structuring of the rat cerebellum

Exposure of rat pups to lead (less than 45 micrograms/dl blood) caused no alterations in the rate of cerebellar cell acquisition, migration or final number when compared with age-matched controls. The rate of DNA biosynthesis was higher in the lead-exposed animals compared to controls and remained elevated until postnatal day 10. This observation suggests lengthening of the cell cycle. The expected increase in DNA biosynthetic rate was delayed in neuron-enriched fractions obtained from lead-exposed pups. This may have been due to the isolation procedure specifically selecting internal granular layer cells which migrated precociously during a protracted G1 phase in a lead-impaired cell cycle. Morphometric studies revealed no difference in the number, viability and migration of cells within and from the external granular layer of the cerebellum of lead-exposed animals. It is concluded that chronic low level lead exposure has no significant effect on the early structuring of the developing cerebellum.