Cadmium Enhances Locomotor Behaviour in F1 Generation Mice Following Maternal Exposure During Lactation: Modulation by Quercetin

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of Cd exposure on locomotor behaviour in F1 mice whose dams were exposed to low dose cadmium for a short duration during the lactation period and whether quercetin could modulate the effects. The locomotor behaviour and musculoskeletal activity were tested using photoactomter and rota rod test respectively. We observed that at the given dose of Cd (1.2mg/kg) for a short duration, the muscle coordination on rota rod showed significant improvement as compared to the control group. Cotreatment of Cd with quercetin (100mg/kg) further enhanced the rota rod activity. Similarly the spontaneous motor activity as tested on the photoactometer also exhibited improvement in Cd treated group though this change was not statistically significant. However, Cd when cotreated with quercetin (50 mg/kg) showed significant enhancement in photoactometer activity compared to control. Quercetin administered alone (dose 25 mg/kg) also demonstrated significantly improved rota rod and photoactometer activity as compared to control. Thus cadmium exposure to dams at dose (1.2mg/kg) during lactation may cause enhanced locomotor behaviour in their offsprings.