Nicotine attenuates spatial learning deficits induced in the rat by perinatal lead exposure.
Maternally lead (Pb)-exposed, juvenile rats exhibit significant deficits in spatial reference memory acquisition and working memory performance in the Morris water maze (MWM). Acute systemic application of nicotine reverses these deficits without affecting behavioral performance of the age-matched, lead-unexposed control animals. These results suggest that nicotinic agonist treatments can ameliorate learning and memory impairments, presumably by compensating for deficient nicotinic function in developmentally lead-exposed animals.
Zhou
Mingfu
M
Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, P.O. Box 670576, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0576, USA.
Suszkiw
Janusz B
JB
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D020264:Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Childhood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D009538:Nicotine