Neurobehavioral changes produced in rats by prenatal exposure to carbon monoxide

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 616; no. 1-2; p. 126
• Main Authors: Di Giovanni, V, Cagiano, R, De Salvia, M A, Giustino, A, Lacomba, C, Renna, G, Cuomo, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 09-07-1993
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Avoidance Learning - drug effects; Body Weight - drug effects; Carbon Monoxide - toxicity; Conditioning, Operant - drug effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Gestational Age; Male; Motor Activity - drug effects; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Ultrasonics; Vocalization, Animal - drug effects
• ISSN: 0006-8993
• DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(93)90200-7

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.