Mercury Exposure and Post Exposure Recovery of the Cerebellar Cortex and Hippocampus of Adult Wistar Rats

Global environmental toxicants including Mercury (Hg) has potential health hazards to both human and animals. The studies investigate role of mercury exposure (ME) and mercury post exposure recovery (MPER) on grip strength and memory of adult Wistar rats. Eighteen adult Wistar rats were divided into three groups (I, II and III) with six rats per group. Group I as control, administered normal saline. Groups II and III were treated with doses of Hg at 12.45mg/kg and 24.9mg/kg respectively for twelve consecutive days. Motor balance test using grip strength test and novel objects recognition test for short term memory were conducted during ME and MPER phase. Animals were further divided into subgroups Ia&Ib, IIa&IIb, and IIIa&IIIb of three rats per subgroup. Rats in subgroup 'b' were allowed for 12 days MPER period while animals in subgroup a' were anesthetized. Brain tissues obtained were fixed in a Bouin's fluid for routine histological tissue processing. Motor balance coordination test indicates significant (p

Key Words: memory, motor, cell volume, cell number, cellular morphometry