Neurobehavioral changes produced in rats by prenatal exposure to carbon monoxide.
Wistar female rats were exposed to relatively mild concentrations of carbon monoxide (75 and 150 ppm) from day 0 to day 20 of pregnancy. The results show that prenatal exposure to CO (150 ppm) produced a significant reduction in the minimum frequency of ultrasonic calls emitted by rat pups removed from their nest. Moreover, a significant decrease in the responsiveness (rate of calling) to a challenge dose of diazepam (0.25 mg/kg) was found in male pups exposed to CO (150 ppm) during gestation. Prenatal CO (75 and 150 ppm) did not significantly affect locomotor activity or D-amphetamine-induced hyperactivity in both 14- and 21-day-old animals. Furthermore, adult male rats exposed to this chemical (150 ppm) during gestation exhibited significant alterations in the acquisition of an active avoidance task. CO-induced learning disruption does not seem to be linked to changes in the emotionality of animals. These findings suggest that gestational exposure to CO induces in rat offspring both short- and long-term behavioral changes characterized by altered ontogeny of emotional responsiveness to environmental challenges and by learning impairment.
Di Giovanni
V
V
Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bari, Italy.
Cagiano
R
R
De Salvia
M A
MA
Giustino
A
A
Lacomba
C
C
Renna
G
G
Cuomo
V
V
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*
D002248:Carbon Monoxide