inhibitory avoidance in rodents

The inhibitory avoidance test is a classic model behavioral test with a strong aversive component used to evaluate learning and memory in rats and mice (Cahill et al., 1986). In the present study, we observed a significant decrease in the step-down latency in Cd-intoxicated rats by the inhibitory avoidance test, suggesting learning and memory impairment in these animals. This result corroborates our recently published data where rats intoxicated orally with Cd showed impaired cognition (Gonçalves et al., 2010). In fact, some studies have demonstrated that Cd induces neurotoxicity in animals with a wide spectrum of clinical entities such as changes in the normal brain neurochemistry as well as neurological and behavioral disturbances (Gonçalves et al., 2010 and Minami et al., 2001).