Effects of prenatal zidovudine treatment on learning and memory capacitiesof preweanling and young adult mice

The present study analyzed the short and long-term effects of prenatal zido vudine (AZT) exposure on learning and memory capacities of CD-1 mice. Two t asks normally used in rodents were used, namely a passive avoidance step-th rough task and a Morris navigation task. AZT (0, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/ml) was ad ministered via drinking water to pregnant CD-1 females from day 10 of gesta tion to delivery. Data on reproductive performance, such as gestation lengt h, litter size, and pup mortality were collected. Avoidance learning in the offspring was tested on postnatal day (PND) 15, while spatial learning per formances in the Morris water maze were obtained on PND 45. Retention of th e passive avoidance response was mildly impaired in the offspring exposed t o the 0.8 mg/ml AZT solution, whereas spatial learning on PND 45 was unaffe cted. (C) 1999 Intox Press, Inc.