Alterations of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine and its metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic produced in rat brain tissues after systemic administration of saxitoxin

Behavioral alterations induced by repeated saxitoxin exposure in drinking water

BACKGROUND

Blooms of the saxitoxin-producing cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii have been contaminating drinking water reservoirs in Brazil for many years. Although acute effects of saxitoxin intoxication are well known, chronic deleterious outcomes caused by repeated saxitoxin exposure still require further investigation. The aim of the present work is to investigate the effects of consumption of drinking water contaminated with C. raciborskii for 30 days on learning and memory processes in rats.

METHODS

The effects of saxitoxin (3 or 9 μg/L STX equivalents) or cyanobacteria on behavior was determined using the open field habituation task, elevated plus maze anxiety model task, inhibitory avoidance task, and referential Morris water maze task.

RESULTS

No effects of saxitoxin consumption was observed on anxiety and motor exploratory parameters in the elevated plus maze and open field habituation tasks, respectively. However, groups treated with 9 μg/L STX equivalents displayed a decreased memory performance in the inhibitory avoidance and Morris water maze tasks.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest an amnesic effect of saxitoxin on aversive and spatial memories.