Impact of low-level lead on growth and survival of primary cultured hippocampus neurons

  Objective   To study the impact of low-level lead on the growth and survival of primary cultured hippocampus neurons.

  Methods   To establish the technique of primary culturing hippocampus neurons of newborn rat with serum-free medium.Being treated with different dosage of PbCl₂, the growth and survival of the cultured cells were observed at different time-point.

  Results   Even low level of 10^-7 mol/L Pb²⁺ could delay the neurite's outgrowth, shorten the neurite's length and decrease the neuron's survival rate.When Pb²⁺ increased, its toxic effects increased.

  Conclusion   Low-level lead inhibited the neurons'growth and survival.