Prenatal exposure to carbon monoxide: learning and memory deficits.

Exposing pregnant rats to carbon monoxide (150 parts per million) produced only minor reductions in the birth weights of the pups and gave no evidence of overt teratogenesis. However, behavioral evaluation of learning and memory processes in a two-way avoidance task suggested a functional deficit in the central nervous system of the exposed offspring. Multiple dependent measures and specific control groups confirmed that this deficit was independent of nonassociative or motivational alterations.

[1]  Z. Annau,et al.  Prenatal carbon monoxide exposure alters behavioral development. , 1980, Neurobehavioral toxicology.

[2]  W. Merigan,et al.  Behavioral effects of carbon monoxide on animals and man. , 1979, Annual review of pharmacology and toxicology.

[3]  L. Longo.  CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE PREGNANT MOTHER AND FETUS AND ITS EXCHANGE ACROSS THE PLACENTA * , 1970, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

[4]  P. Cole.  Comparative effects of atmospheric pollution and cigarette smoking on carboxyhaemoglobin levels in man , 1975, Nature.

[5]  L. Longo.  Carbon monoxide: effects on oxygenation of the fetus in utero. , 1976, Science.

[6]  Z. Annau,et al.  Toxicity of mild prenatal carbon monoxide exposure. , 1977, Science.

[7]  F. A. Smith,et al.  Teratogenic potential of inhaled carbon monoxide in mice and rabbits. , 1979, Teratology.

[8]  R. B. Rutledge,et al.  Carboxyhemoglobin sources in the metropolitan St. Louis population. , 1974, Archives of environmental health.

[9]  R. Bauer.  Ontogeny of two-way avoidance in male and female rats. , 1978, Developmental psychobiology.

[10]  N. Spear,et al.  Effect of age and punishment condition on long-term retention by the rat of active- and passive-avoidance learning. , 1970, Journal of comparative and physiological psychology.

[11]  P. J. Lawther,et al.  CIGARETTE SMOKING AND EXPOSURE TO CARBON MONOXIDE , 1970, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

[12]  J. Goldsmith.  CONTRIBUTION OF MOTOR VEHICLE EXHAUST, INDUSTRY, AND CIGARETTE SMOKING TO COMMUNITY CARBON MONOXIDE EXPOSURES , 1970, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

[13]  E. Radford,et al.  A rapid method for simultaneous measurement of carboxy- and methemoglobin in blood. , 1971, Journal of applied physiology.

[14]  P. Astrup,et al.  Effect of moderate carbon-monoxide exposure on fetal development. , 1972, Lancet.

[15]  L. Longo,et al.  Environmental pollution and pregnancy: risks and uncertainties for the fetus and infant. , 1980, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.