Neurobehavioural and brain histological effects in suckling pups of nursing rat dams orally dosed with mercuric acetate during pregnancy and lactation period

Thirty female albino rats and their pups daily dosed with mercuric acetate during pregnancy and lactation period, rats equally divided into three groups given 0ral doses for T1 (1mg\kgb.w), T2 group given (5mg/kg b.w). Of mercuric acetate and control group which given distilled water during a period of experiment. The neurobehavioral results were obtained in 10 randomly selected suckling pups at the end of lactation period showed significant decrease in locomotor activity and exploration, stimulation in autonomic nervous system activity (number of bolus faces), defect in vestibular function, disturbance in proper reflex, defect in degree of cognitive function and neuromuscular coordination, Microscopic examination results showed that the severity of the brain pathological lesions increased with increasing standard mercuric acetate doses received through their dam's milk or transferred through placenta during pregnancy exposure.