Some aspects of feeding and locomotor activity in adult rats exposed to tetraethyl lead.

The potential relationship between concomitant changes in feeding behavior and locomotor activity in rats exposed to tetraethyl lead (TTEL) was investigated. Two groups of rats were injected IP with a dose of TTEL (7 mg/kg) that depresses food intake. One group served as a control to replicate this effect. Animals in the second lead group were food yoked to animals in a placebo group. Food intake of rats in group 2 was maintained at or near the level of their yoked control via intragastric intubation. Food loads did not maintain body weights at control levels; however, locomotor activity level in both lead treated groups was significantly elevated above controls during normophagic periods when body weights approximated control levels as well as during hypophagic, low body weight periods. These observations suggest that activity shifts are not mediated in a simple way by factors linked to reduced food intake. Two additional experiments were briefly reported in which TTEL-exposed rats were challenged with 2-deoxy-D-glucose and insulin, either during their hypophagic phase or during a later recovered (normophagic) period. Feeding in response to glucoprivic challenge was similar to that of control animals under both conditions. Results were discussed.