Influences of quality of maternal care and environmental enrichment on associative memory function in rats with early life lead exposure.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Children in low socioeconomic status (SES) communities are at higher risk of exposure to lead (Pb) and potentially more severe adverse outcomes from Pb exposures. While the factors encompassing SES are complex, low SES households often have less enriching home environments and parent-child interactions. This study investigated the extent to which environmental/behavioral factors (quality of maternal care and richness of the postnatal environment) may modify adverse effects from Pb exposure.

Methods

Long-Evans female rats were randomly assigned to Control (no Pb), Early Postnatal (EPN: birth through weaning), or Perinatal (PERI: 14 days pre-mating through weaning) Pb exposure groups. From postnatal days (PNDs) 2-9, maternal care behaviors were observed, and dams

SUBMITTER: Schneider JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11410876 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature