Mapping the effects of developmental lead (Pb) exposure on the hippocampus with single cell analysis

Lead (Pb) exposure is ubiquitous with permanent neurodevelopmental effects. The hippocampus brain region is involved in learning and memory with heterogeneous cellular composition. The hippocampus cell type-specific responses to Pb are unknown. This experiement sought to examine perinatal Pb treatment effects on adult hippocampus gene expression, at the level of individual cells. In mice perinatally exposed to control water or a human physiologically-relevant level (32 ppm in maternal drinking water) of Pb, two weeks prior to mating through weaning, we tested for hippocampus gene expression and cellular differences at 5-months of age. 8 mice, 4 perinatally exposed to control diet and 4 to a human physiologically relevant level (32 ppm in maternal drinking water) of lead, two weeks prior to mating through lactation