Effect of lead acetate administration on ATPases of brain and its mitochondrial and synaptosomal fractions in adult mice.

The effects of oral administration of lead acetate on the activities of cation-transport ATPases and on the brain and its mitochondrial and synaptosomal fractions of male mice were studied at doses of 1, 5, and 20 mg lead acetate per 100 g body weight per day for 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. The activities of Na(+)-ATPase, K(+)-ATPase, total-ATPase, and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase decreased significantly at doses of 1 and 5 mg lead acetate after 12 and 16 weeks of treatment; changes in the activities were not marked after 4 and 8 weeks of lead administration. However, the 20-mg dose significantly reduced enzyme activities at all treatment intervals.