Behavioral alterations in offspring of female rats repeatedly exposed to cadmium oxide by inhalation.

Prolonged exposure of female rats to cadmium oxide aerosols (0.02 and 0.16 mg Cd/m3) in air had no effect on fertility. Viability and postnatal growth of the offspring of dams that were exposed to 0.16 mg Cd/m3 before and during gestation, however, were depressed. Forepaw muscular strength and endurance of pups in all groups were similar. Maternal Cd exposure resulted in reduction of exploratory motor activity in 3-month-old pups from the 0.16 mg Cd/m3 group and male offspring from the 0.02 mg Cd/m3 group. Dose-dependent decreases of avoidance acquisition were seen in female offspring but not in males. In the open-field test, the ambulation of 5-month-old males from the 0.16 mg Cd/m3 was lowered, whereas in females from the 0.02 mg Cd/m3 group it was enhanced. The results indicate central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction in offspring of female rats exposed to low concentrations of cadmium oxide by inhalation.