This experiment was performed to investigate the acute and chronic effects of lead on cerebral cortex. In acute treatment, mouse were injected with lead acetate at dose of 0.3 mmole/kg body weight, and in chronic treatment, mouse were supplied 0.03 M lead acetate sol. in the place of water. After treatment, mouse were sacrificed at time intervals of 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours in acute treatment and at time intervals of 4 weeks and 8 weeks in chronic treatment. In acute treatment, acetylcholinesterase activity is reduced at 72 hours and recovered at 96 hours in homogenate, and reduced at 24 hours and recovered at 72 hours in crude synaptosomes. In chronic treatment, acetylcholinesterase activity is increased in young mouse but reduced in mother mouse. Ultrastructural changes were composed of swelling of Golgi apparatus, nerve terminals with diminished synaptic vesicles, and vacuolated myeline lamellae of myelinated axon.