Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Evidence of Glial Effects of Cumulative Lead Exposure in the Adult Human Hippocampus

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hu H ; Lenkinski RE ; Sparrow D ; Weisskopf MG ; Wright RO
• Description:
  Background: Exposure to lead is known to have adverse effects on cognition in several different populations. Little is known about the underlying structural and functional correlates of such exposure in humans. Objectives: We assessed the association between cumulative exposure to lead and levels of different brain metabolite ratios in vivo using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Methods: We performed MRS on 15 men selected from the lowest quintile of patella bone lead within the Department of Veterans Affairs' Normative Aging Study (NAS) and 16 from the highest to assess in the hippocampal levels of the metabolites N-acetylaspartate, myoinositol, and choline, each expressed as a ratio with creatine. Bone lead concentrations-indicators of cumulative lead exposure-were previously measured using K-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. MRS was performed on the men from 2002 to 2004. Results: A 20-microg/g bone and 15-microg/g bone higher patella and tibia bone lead concentration--the respective interquartile ranges within the whole NAS--were associated with a 0.04 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.00-0.08; p = 0.04] and 0.04 (95% CI, 0.00-0.08; p = 0.07) higher myoinositol-to-creatine ratio in the hippocampus. After accounting for patella bone lead declines over time, analyses adjusted for age showed that the effect of a 20-microg/g bone higher patella bone lead level doubled (0.09; 95% CI, 0.01-0.17; p = 0.03). Conclusions: Cumulative lead exposure is associated with an increase in the myinositol-to-creatine ratio. These data suggest that, as assessed with MRS, glial effects may be more sensitive than neuronal effects as an indicator of cumulative exposure to lead in adults. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aging Energy Metabolism Environmental Exposure Lead Men Nervous System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Women

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• Keywords:
  Age Groups Author Keywords: Bone Lead Bone Structure Chemicals Children Choline Cognitive Function Environmental Exposure Exposure Levels Glia Hazards Health Effects Hippocampus Humans In Vivo Study Metabolism Metabolites Myoinositol N-acetylaspartate Neuronal Viability Proton MRS Risk Factors X-ray Fluorescence Analysis

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• ISSN:
  0091-6765
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  115
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059826
• Citation:
  Environ Health Perspect 2007 Apr; 115(4):519-523
• Contact Point Address:
  M.G. Weisskopf, Harvard School of Public Health, Occupational Health Program, Landmark Center, 401 Park Dr., PO Box 15697, Boston MA 02215
• Email:
  mweissko@hsph.harvard.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2007
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Health Perspectives
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9ea5844ddf9fdf757e69cee29651d7d58a37a198392d54a170333690a51deb1ca15e30c577056e98cb60f685acfd1bd9a6344727e69ed9ac7c25988ef2805ba4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/223894/cdc_223894_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 545.48 KB ]