Cadmium increases the sensitivity of adolescent female mice to nicotine-related behavioral deficits

Behav Neurol. 2014:2014:360978. doi: 10.1155/2014/360978. Epub 2014 Nov 16.

Abstract

This study investigates spatial and nonspatial working memory, anxiety related behavior, and motor activities in cadmium and/or nicotine exposed female adolescent mice. P28 female adolescent mice (albino strain) were divided into four groups of five (n = 5) mice each. A set of mice (Nic) received subcutaneous nicotine (2.0 mg/kg) while a separate set (Cd) was treated with 2.0 mg/kg cadmium (subcutaneous). For the combined treatments of cadmium and nicotine, we administered 2.0 mg/kg Nicotine and 2.0 mg/kg of Cd. Subsequently, a separate group of animals (n = 5; control) received normal saline. The total duration of treatment for all groups was 28 days (P28-P56). At P56, the treatment was discontinued, after which the animals were examined in behavioural tests. Nicotine and cadmium increased the metabolism and food intake in the female adolescent mice. This also corresponded to an increase in weight when compared with the control. However, a combined nicotine-cadmium treatment induced a decline in weight of the animals versus the control. Also, nicotine administration increased the motor function, while cadmium and nicotine-cadmium treatment caused a decline in motor activity. Both nicotine and cadmium induced a reduction in memory index; however, nicotine-cadmium treatment induced the most significant decrease in nonspatial working memory.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Cadmium / pharmacology*
  • Drug Interactions
  • Eating / drug effects
  • Female
  • Maze Learning / drug effects
  • Memory, Short-Term / drug effects*
  • Mice
  • Motor Activity / drug effects*
  • Nicotine / pharmacology*
  • Nicotinic Agonists / pharmacology
  • Rotarod Performance Test
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / metabolism
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / physiopathology

Substances

  • Nicotinic Agonists
  • Cadmium
  • Nicotine