Behavioral deficits due to prenatal exposure to cadmium chloride in CFY rat pups.

The postnatal behavioral effects of 0.20, 0.62 and 2.0 mg/kg cadmium chloride administered to pregnant CFY rats on gestational days 7 through 15 were evaluated. Offspring were tested starting on postnatal day 23 on a rotorod for motor coordination, in an open field device for motor activity and emotionality, in a water-filled tube for stress responses, in the acquisition and extinction of an instrumental shock-escape response and in a social interaction situation. All behavioral measures showed significant alterations at the medium and high dose of cadmium exposure. The results suggest that doses of cadmium chloride that produce no overt toxicity in the dam can have long-lasting behavioral alterations in the offspring.