Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of lead acetate on free radicals and lipid peroxidation in the cerebral cor⁃
tex, cerebellum, and hippocampus in rat brains. Methods SD rats (n=48), who were just weaned, were randomly divided in⁃
to 4 groups base on their weight. Then the rats were fed with lead acetate in drinking water at the final concentrations of 0 mg/L
(deionized water), 200 mg/L, 400 mg/L, 800 mg/L respectively. Blood lead level as well as the hydroxyl free radical inhibiting
activity, the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hippocam⁃
pus were measured 60 days after lead contamination in water. Results Upon lead exposure, blood lead levels increased sig⁃
nificantly as compared with the control. The hydroxyl free radical inhibiting activity in cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hip⁃
pocampus decreased significantly in a dose dependent manner of lead(P < 0.05). And they all correlated negatively with
blood lead level (r=-0.505,-0.414,-0.448, P < 0.05). By contrast, blood lead level was positively correlated with H2O2 and
MDA in these brain tissues (r=0.301, 0.411, 0.378, and 0.404, 0.324, 0.510， P < 0.05). Conclusion Lead exposure can
lead to lipid peroxidation of rat brain tissues through inducing free radicals.
