Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of lead exposure on cell vitality and divalent metalion transporter-1(DMT1)expression at different concentrations and time in PC12 cells.Methods PC12 cells were cultured to the exponential growth phase, and then treated with lead acetate at a gradient concentration of 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 μM and cultured continuously for 24, 48, and 72 hours.The cell viability was determined with 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT).The DMT1 expression in PC12 cells was detected with real-time reverse transcription PCR(RT-PCR)and Western blot.Results No significant difference was observed in the cell viability of PC12 cells with the lead exposure for 24 hours(P>0.05).The cell viability decreased in response to increased doses and showed a dose-effect relationship(P<0.05)with the lead exposure for 48 and 72 hours.The expression of DMT1(+IRE)mRNA and protein were increased with the increment of lead dose at the exposure of 24 hours(P<0.05).The expression of DMT1(+IRE)mRNA and protein showed no significant difference at lead exposure time of 48 hours but the expressions decreased with increment of lead dose(P<0.05)at the exposure time of 72 hours;however, the expression of DMT1(-IRE)mRNA showed significant difference.Conclusion The expressions of DMT1(+IRE)mRNA and protein increase in respond to lead exposure at the early period, but then decrease with the exposure time.