TITLE:
Effect of Chronic Aluminum Administration on Affective and Cognitive Behavior in Male and Female Rats
AUTHORS:
Oussama Zghari, Ayoub Rezqaoui, Sihame Ouakki, Mouloud Lamtai, Jihane Chaibat, Abdelhalem Mesfioui, Aboubaker El Hessni, El-Housseine Rifi, Azzouz Essamri, Ali Ouichou
KEYWORDS:
Aluminum, Anxiety, Depression, Memory, Behavioral Tests, Wistar Rat
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science,
Vol.8 No.4,
April
26,
2018
ABSTRACT: In this study, we investigated the effect of chronic exposure of low doses of Aluminum on affective and cognitive disorders in male and female rats. Twenty-five rats for each gender are used and the treatment carried out for 8 weeks. Animals received distilled water for control or an intraperitoneal injection of different doses of Aluminum: 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg. Behavioral performance is measured in various tests mainly the Open Field, Elevated Plus Maze, Force Swimming Test, Morris Water Maze, Y-maze and Object Recognition Test. Al exerts anxiogenic properties and depressive effect. The effect begins at 0.25 mg/kg to reach a maximum at 1 mg/kg. In addition, chronic exposure to Aluminum causes cognitive disorders characterized by affection of memory and influence spatial learning performance. The effect of Aluminum on working memory is effective just at 1 mg/kg, while the effect on spatial learning performance begins at 0.25 mg/kg to reach a maximum at 1 mg/kg. In conclusion, Aluminum enhances anxiety and depression parameters and cognitive disorders characterized by the affection of memory and spatial learning performance.