ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to make a contribution towards unravelling this reality. Behavioural studies using the Morris Water Maze task was elicited in Wistar rats which were grouped for weight and sex (nmale=18; n female =12). Reference or latency time recordings for three (3) training at the start of the experiment and after a 5week period of exposure to cigarette smoke (in case of exposed Rats) or 5weeks training free period (in case of non-exposed Rats). Analysis of the time recordings suggest that there is a significant decrease (p≤0.05)for the control male Wistar rats unlike the insignificant(p≥0.05) change obtained for the control and experimental female and experimental male. Similarly, assessment of the histological section of the hippocampus of the Male Wistar rats from both tissue sections and hippocampal cell suspension was done. Cell counting of normal and Pyknotic pyramidal cells was done using Image J soft ware. Analysis of the cell count suggests a significantly higher (p≤0.05) count in the Exposed Males only, for both the normal and pyknotic pyramidal cells compared to the counts of the Control Male rats. In conclusion, male Wistar rats tend to retain Reference memory of Morris Water Maze Task for a longer time (5 weeks in this case) compared to female Wistar rats. Similarly, cigarette smoke maintained at 10-32ppm of Carbon Monoxide for 4 days in a week for 5 weeks suffices in disrupting the memory capabilities of the Wistar rats. With a corresponding level of higher rates of Pyknotic pyramidal cell.