Abstract: Objective To study the effects of acrylamide on learning and memory ability in young rats and alleviated effect of vitamin C. Methods Forty SPF grade SD rats weighing 70-90 g were randomly divided into four groups, 10 in each group and male and female in half. The control groups were given normal saline. The rats in experimental groups were given acrylamide dissolved in normal saline, at the doses of 2.5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and vitamin C group was given 10 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg vitamin at the same time. All animals were given test substances through oral gavage, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks. Body weight was measured per week. Special tests included the rotarod Test and the staining of rat brain tissue. Learning and memory ability was tested by Morris water maze (MWM). Results Compared with the control group, the weight of rats in high-dose group treated with acrylamide was decreased (P<0.05) and time for rats standing rotarod was decreased (P<0.05) and the latency was extended and the distance was increased by Morris water maze (MWM); The HE staining suggested that the hippocampal tissue of rats was damaged. The indexes of vitamin C group were better than the experimental groups. Conclusion Acrylamide can damage motor function and learning-memory capability in young rats and vitamin C can decrease the ACR toxicity and alleviate the hippocampal tissue damage in some degree.

Key words: Acrylamide, Learning and memory, Oxidation, Vitamin C