Ethological Problems and Learning Disability due to Aluminium Toxicity in Rats

A. Goma, Amira,; Mahrous, U. E.

doi:10.21608/jvmr.2013.77698

Ethological Problems and Learning Disability due to Aluminium Toxicity in Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Amira, A. Goma ¹
U. E. Mahrous ²

¹ Department of Animal Husbandry and wealth development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt

² Department of Animal Husbandry and wealth development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Egypt

10.21608/jvmr.2013.77698

Abstract

A total of 35 Sprague-Dawley adult rats were used to investigate the effect of aluminium toxicity on behavioural patterns of adult female rats and learning ability of offspring. Rats were allotted into 4 groups, group one received 2g/l anhydrous aluminium chloride (n=10), group two received 3g/l anhydrous aluminium chloride (n=10), group three received 3.5g/l anhydrous aluminium chloride in drinking water (n=10) and control group did not receive anhydrous aluminium chloride (n=5) from 8th day of pregnancy till weaning of pups. The obtained results showed that feeding time increased significantly in 2g/l and 3.5g/l anhydrous aluminium chloride groups than control one, while, litter licking frequency and nursing time increased significantly in 2g/l anhydrous aluminium chloride than other groups. On contrary
lying time decreased significantly in rats treated with 2g/l anhydrous aluminium chloride than other groups, licking and scratching decreased in 3g/l and 3.5g/l anhydrous aluminium chloride groups. In considering, the time spent in closed arms by offspring pups exhibited much times significantly than control group, while, time spent in open arms of elevated plus maze decreased significantly in all treated groups than control group. On the other hand, number of entries in open arms significantly decreased in treated groups than control one.

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