ABSTRACT
Objective To study the learning and memory abilities together with the morphological changes in astrocyte and neuron in the hippocampal CA3 area in mice induced by chronic cadmium exposure. Methods Twenty Kunming mice aged 4-5 months were selected by Y-maze and randomly divided into two groups. The cadmium exposed group treated with cadmium (CdCl2,2 mg/kg) by subcutaneous injection,twice a week for 3 consecutive months,and the normal control group were injected with the equal dose of saline. The learning and memory abilities were detected by Y-maze after 3 months of treatment. The structure of astrocytes and neurons in CA3 area of hippocampus were observed under light microscope,and the quantitatively analysis was performed by cell morphometric technique. Results Compared with the control group,learning and memory capacity determined by Y-maze test in the cadmium exposed group were lower (P