Three alternatives for the prevention of lead toxic effects L-deprenyl, bromocriptine and pergolide were analyzed. Primary astrocyte cultures, 14
itro, were exposed to 10 MM lead acetate for 24 hours. This lead
acetate exposed cultures were exposed also to dopamine agonists (L deprenyl, bromocripine and pergolide in a final concentrations 1,10 and 100 uM for each substance for 24 hours. The morphogical changes of astrocytes (area, number of cells, number of processes either primary and secondary and their lengths) were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in lead acetate treated groups in comparison with untreated one. Area and number of astrocytes were increased in cultures treated with both L-deprenyl, bromocriptine and pergolide in all concentrations of these used substances in relation to cultures treated with lead acetate alone. The other morphological changes include number of processes and length of secondary processes were significantly increased than lead acetate treated cultures in almost concentrations used of previousely mentioned dopamine agonists. The cytoplasmic leakage represented in measuring LDH was significantly (P<0.05) increased in cultures treated with lead acetate than that untreated, while LDH was significantly (P<0.001) reduced in cultures treated with L-deprenyl, bromocriptine and pergolide in all concentrations used in comparison with that treated with lead acetate alone. This work represented a new trial for protection of astrocytes against toxic effects of lead in vitro. Abbreviations. CNS: Central nervous system; LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase; GssG: glutathione disulfide; bFGF: basic Fibroblast growth factor; GFAP: Glial fibrillary acidic protein.