Developmental Lead Exposure Alters the Locomotor Response to Morphine in Adult Mice

Lead is a neurotoxin that predominantly affects children living in low socioeconomic areas. Lead exposure, which often occurs via ingestion, leads to long-lasting neurobiological changes altering behavior later in life. In particular, early-life Pb exposure has shown to positively correlate with development of substance use disorders, however, few studies have demonstrated a cause-effect relationship. The purpose of the present study was to determine if early-life Pb exposure at levels commonly encountered by children growing up in and around industrialized cities alters the locomotor response to 10 mg/kg morphine.

Mentor: Stephen Boehm