Learning Impairment from Maternal Salicylate Treatment in Rats

THE administration of large doses of salicylates to pregnant animals produces malformations of the central nervous system, internal organs and skeleton¹. In rats, minor abnormalities are observed to result from a single oral dose of 250 mg kg^?1 at day 9 of gestation, with the severity and frequency of malformations increasing at higher doses. The period of maximal susceptibility has been shown to be on days 9 and 10 of gestation². This study provides preliminary evidence that doses too low to yield gross central nervous system malformations can produce behavioural impairments in the offspring.