Behavioural change in rats due to chronic oral and systemic formaldehyde

Impact of chronic formaldehyde exposure in respect of route on behaviour was studied. Preconditioned (environmental) male albino rats (340-400 g) in 3 groups (n = 5) under 60 days oral and systemic exposure to 10 mg/kg/day HCHO were examined for their behavioural performance (i.e. short term memory) in Cook's apparatus. Twenty percent rats settled in grade III (unconditioned avoidance response) in the i.p. (i.e. systemic group) whereas in oral fed (HCHO route in drinking water) rats, 60% settled in grade II (conditioned avoidance response) at the end of sixty days.