title: Methylmercury chloride induces learning deficits in prenatally treated rats.
abstract: Methylmercury chloride (MMC) was given to pregnant rats on the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th day after conception in doses of 0.05 and 2.0 mg/kg/day. The female offspring of these animals were tested 90 days after birth for learning ability using operant conditioning procedures. The rats were kept at 90% of their normal body weight and trained in a lever-box to press a bar in order to obtain a food pellet. Significant differences in the acquisition speed became apparent when the ratio of bar presses to reward was increased in a classical contingency of differential reinforcement of high rates even at MMC-doses of 4 X 0.05 mg/kg. These differences were not found in the general motility level nor in motor coordination.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds