Developmental lead effects on behavior and brain gene expression in male and female BALB/cAnNTac mice

► Behavior studies revealed that the mice exposed to Pb during development were less prone to explore and had memory impairment. ► As adults the Pb exposed males displayed aggressive behavior towards their cage-mates, but ignored a stranger intruder. ► Microarray analysis of brain RNA at pnd21 indicated Pb was affecting pathways important for neuronal development. ► Brain gene expression analysis at pnd21 indicated inflammation in the brain. ► Vomeronasal receptor gene expression, associated with regulation of social behaviors, was altered by Pb in the brain at pnd21.