Neurobehavioral Consequences of Chronic Lead Intoxication: Effects of Vitamin E Supplementation

We investigated the effects of vitamin E supplementation on neurobehavioral alterations induced by chronic ingestion of lead acetate in mice. The animals were divided into three main groups, group 1 (control) given with normal saline (10 ml/kg) and groups 2 and 3 given with 3000 mg/kg lead acetate alone and in combination with 13 IU of vitamin E, respectively, for a period of 90 days. Lead intoxication resulted in significant ( P < 0.05) reduction of the number of head dips in the hole-board test and the time spent in the open arm of the elevated plus maze test, compared with the control. Intoxication also induced increased pain sensitivity, as shown by significant ( P < 0.05) reduction in the tail flick latency and increase in the frequency of abdominal constrictions in the writhing test. The periods of immobility in both tail suspension and forced swimming tests in intoxicated animals were greater, as compared with the control. Co-administration of vitamin E with lead in group 3 significantly ( P < 0.05) reversed all the mentioned shifts (increased the number of head dips and time spent in the maze open arm, increased the tail flick latency, decreased the frequency of writhings, and decreased the periods of immobility in the forced swimming and tail suspension tests). Thus, vitamin E treatment is capable of effectively attenuating the negative neurobehavioral consequences of lead intoxication.