Effects of Lead on Temporally-Spaced Responding I N Rats

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effects of lead acetate and aging on temporally-spaced responding (differential reinforcement of low rate) were studied. Three groups of animals were considered along with their respective controls. Neonate-treated Long-Evans rats were orally intubated with 200 mg/kg lead acetate 3-30 days after birth. Some of these animals were tested at 3 mo. (adult group) and some at 21 mo. (geriatric group) of age. A continuously treated group was exposed to 250 ppm Pb in utero and throughout their life after birth and was tested at 8 mo. of age. Pb-treated animals exhibited a more variable response to d-amphetamine and a more pronounced number of IRT [inter-response time] in the 1st class interval. Aging shifted the pentobarbital dose-response curve to the left in control and Pb-treated animals and flattened IRT distributions.