Learning impairment in mice following acute exposure to dichloromethane and carbon tetrachloride

Abstract

Mice were exposed via inhalation to high concentrations of either dichloromethane (168 mg/l) or carbon tetrachloride (134.3 mg/l). The mice were tested for learning ability using a passive‐avoidance conditioning task. Exposed animals were found to have a significantly decreased ability to learn when compared with controls. The 3‐wk‐old mice were more affected than the 5‐wk‐old and the 8‐wk‐old mice. The exposed animals were indistinguishable from controls in terms of motor activity, weight gain, and absence of analgesia.