THE NEUROCOGNITIVE EFFECTS OF VANADIUM IN YOUNG MALE RATS

Previous research on vanadium has shown evidence of toxicity when animals and humans are exposed. Vanadium has negative physiological consequences when administered such as respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. However, in the area of diabetes research, vanadium has shown benefits in treatment, such as control of blood sugar, and reducing the need for insulin. Others have shown both negative and positive cognitive effects, which necessitates the need for more information about vanadium exposure. The current study investigated the effects of vanadium exposure (0.05 mg/1000 mg of food mash) on neurocognition in rats. Four weeks following administration of vanadium, rats were tested on the Open-Field, Object Recognition, and Morris Water Maze tasks. Vanadium exposure did not yield significant results on the Open Field test, or on the Object Recognition Task. However, vanadium exposure did improve spatial memory on day 2 of the Morris Water Maze, and there was a trend on days 3 and 4. This study indicates vanadium may have a positive impact on cognition, warranting further research to understand more about the benefits and consequences of vanadium administration.