Comparison of the effects of dose-dependent zinc chloride on short-term and long-term memory in young male rats

Pak J Biol Sci. 2007 Aug 15;10(16):2704-8. doi: 10.3923/pjbs.2007.2704.2708.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dose-dependent of zinc chloride on short-term and long-term memory in a shuttle box. Young Wistar rats (94+/-10 g) (age 27-30 days) consumed zinc chloride drinking water in five different doses (20, 30, 50, 70 and 100 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) for two weeks by gavage. After 14 days on experimental diets, a shuttle box used to test short- and long-term memory. Two criteria considering for behavioral test, including latency in entering dark chamber and time spent in the dark chamber. This experiment shows that after 2 weeks oral administration of ZnCl2 with (20, 30 and 50 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) doses, the rat's working (short-term) has been improved (p<0.05). Whereas ZnCl2 with 30 mg kg(-1) day(-1) dose has been more effected than other doses (p<0.001). But rat which received ZnCl2 with 100 mg kg(-1) day(-1), has been shown significant impairment in working memory (p<0.05) and there was no significant difference in reference (long-term) memory for any of groups. In general, this study has demonstrated that zinc chloride consumption with 30 mg kg(-1) day(-1) dose for two weeks was more effective than other doses on short-term memory. But consumption of ZnCl2 with 100 mg kg(-1) day(-1) dose for two week had the negative effect on short-term memory. On the other hand, zinc supplementation did not have an effect on long-term memory.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Avoidance Learning / drug effects
  • Avoidance Learning / physiology
  • Chlorides / pharmacology*
  • Darkness
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Light
  • Male
  • Memory / drug effects*
  • Memory, Short-Term / drug effects*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reaction Time / drug effects
  • Zinc Compounds / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Chlorides
  • Zinc Compounds
  • zinc chloride