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Chronic exposure to low mercury chloride concentration induces object recognition and aversive memories deficits in rats
Author(s) -
MelloCarpes Pâmela B.,
Barros Wellinghton,
Borges Sidnei,
Alves Niége,
Rizzetti Danize,
Peçanha Franck M.,
Vassallo Dalton V.,
Wiggers Giulia A.,
Izquierdo Ivan
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2013.05.009
Subject(s) - open field , mercury (programming language) , recognition memory , psychology , saline , elevated plus maze , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , chemistry , chloride , neuroscience , anxiety , anesthesia , cognition , medicine , psychiatry , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language
Abstract This work examines the effects of chronic exposure to low inorganic mercury (mercury chloride, HgCl 2 ) concentration on the recognition and aversive memories. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups treated during 30 or 60 days with saline (control) or HgCl 2 doses. After treated the animals were tested considering object recognition and inhibitory avoidance behavioral memory paradigms. Elevated plus maze, open field and tail flick tests were used to assess anxiety, locomotor and exploratory activity and pain thresholds. Only exposure for 60 days to HgCl 2 induced in memory deficits quantified in the object recognition task. In the inhibitory avoidance all the animals exposed to mercury (for 30 or 60 days) presented worst performance than control animals. Our results suggest that chronic exposure to low mercury chloride concentrations impairs memory formation.