Multigenerational lifetime low-dose exposure to heavy metals on selected reproductive parameters in rats

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of multigenerational (P, F1 and F2) exposure to low doses of lead, mercury and cadmium dissolved in tap water on the reproductive potency of Wistar rats and the physical health of their progeny. The animals were divided into 4 groups – control (C) and 3 groups intoxicated by metals (Pb, 100 μM; Hg, 1 μM; Cd, 20 μM, respectively). Females gave births from the 13th to the 78th week of experiment. Parameters of reprotoxicity such as number of litters, total number of neonates (assigned in the birth day), and number of weanlings (28th day after birth) were measured in 13-week intervals. Our data show an increase of most reproductive parameters in parental generation of rats exposed to lead and mercury and a decrease of reproductive parameters of exposed animals in subsequent F1 and F2 generations. Exposure to cadmium had no significant effect on the reproductive parameters in comparison with the control group.

Keywords:

• Heavy metals
• low dose exposure
• multigenerational study
• rats
• reproductive parameters

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education grants VEGA 1/8235/01 and VEGA 1/0387/10.