Short term lead exposure induces a stress-like response in adult mice.

Background: Developmental and perinatal lead exposure in rats affects the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Cortex (HPA) axis function resulting in elevated corticosterone blood levels thus affecting the level of stress responsivity of the offspring. The majority of the studies on lead exposure and stress have been done by exposing the animal indirectly during gestation, or lactation periods. This study presents evidence supporting that short term lead exposure affects a stress-like response in adult lead-exposed mice.