Avoidance behavior in folate--deficient rats

Abstract

The effects of folate deficiency in post-weanling male rats in an active avoidance learning test were studied. Ingestion of a folate-free diet for 3 weeks markedly decreased serum and erythrocyte folate concentrations but had only a slight effect on growth rate. The decrease in blood folates was correlated with an increase in the number of trials necessary to reach criterion in the learning test. There was no motor impairment since the mean escape latency was the same in control and folate-deficient animals. These results suggest that folic acid deficiency started at weaning could be responsible for learning impairment.