The effects of oral cadmium exposure on passive avoidance performance in the adult rat.
Step-down passive avoidance acquisition and 24 h retention performance were examined in adult rats given daily doses of either 0, 1, or 5 mg/kg cadmium (Cd) (as CdCl2) via the diet. Results indicated that subjects exposed to the 5 mg/kg Cd diet were less likely to step off a safe platform onto an electrified grid floor than controls. The 1 mg/kg subjects did not differ from controls on this acquisition task. None of the groups showed differential performances on a retention test administered 24 h after acquisition training. These results are discussed in terms of recent claims that Cd exposure enhances emotional reactivity in animals.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D002104:Cadmium; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid