EFFECTS OF ALUMINUM EXPOSURE ON BEHAVIORAL PARAMETERS IN THE RAT

Adult rats were treated by intraperitoneal injection of aluminum gluco nate for 3 months. Rats were submitted to the radial maze test to dete rmine the influence of chronic aluminum intoxication on cognitive and noncognitive behavioral processes. Both learning abilities (working me mory and reference memory) and rapidity (time spent to respond and to master a trial) were analyzed. Aluminum concentration was evaluated in the brain, serum, and liver to assess aluminum body burden. While hip pocampus and neocortex showed a significant increase in aluminum conce ntration, aluminum treatment did never affect the animal's performance during cue learning or when the insert cues were removed. The only be havioral difference observed was a decrease in rapidity: both the tota l time to finish a trial and the latency to make the first choice were lengthened in aluminum-intoxicated rats. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science In c.