Prenatal exposure to low concentrations of carbon monoxide alters habituation and non-spatial working memory in rat offspring.
Inhalation of low concentrations (75 and 150 ppm) of carbon monoxide (CO) by pregnant rats from days 0 to 20 of gestation leads to alterations in habituation and working memory in young adult male offspring subjected to the novel exploration object test. In particular, lack of habituation upon the second presentation of the objects and failure in the ability to discriminate between the novel and the familiar object were found in CO (75 and 150 ppm)-exposed offspring. These alterations were not accompanied by changes in spontaneous motor activity (open field test). The subtle behavioral deficits observed in the present study have been produced by prenatal exposure to CO levels resulting in maternal blood carboxyhaemoglobin (HbCO) concentrations equivalent to those observed in human cigarette smokers.
Giustino
A
A
Department of Pharmacology and Human Physiology, Section of Pharmacology, University of Bari, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare, Bari, Italy.
Cagiano
R
R
Carratù
M R
MR
Cassano
T
T
Tattoli
M
M
Cuomo
V
V
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012907:Smoking
D002248:Carbon Monoxide