THE EFFECTS OF CHRONIC PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO NICOTINE ON THE BEHAVIOR OF GUINEA-PIGS (CAVIA-PORCELLUS)

Three groups of 15 offspring from guinea pig dams were injected twice daily throughout gestation with one of three doses (0.5, 1.5 or 2.5 mg /kg) of nicotine-hydrogen tartrate. These offspring and 15 saline-expo sed offspring were tested on several behavioral measures. Offspring of nicotine-treated dams had significantly lower rates of spontaneous al ternation as neonates. The 1.5 and 2.5 mg/kg nicotine-exposed offsprin g also alternated less at puberty than control offspring and would not enter an unfamiliar stimulus alley that a majority of controls entere d. Nicotine offspring, as adults, performed significantly poorer than their controls on errors and trials to criterion on a discrimination a nd reversal task. Prenatal nicotine treatment resulted in performance deficits on both learned and innate behavioral measures throughout dev elopment and adulthood.