Researchers investigated the impact of adolescent exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), a common plasticizer, on the synaptic plasticity of the hippocampus in developing rats. Post-weaning adolescent rats (aged 21 days) were exposed to daily doses of BPA (50 μg/kg50\ \mu\text{g/kg}50 μg/kg body weight/day) administered via their drinking water for 4 weeks. The control group of adolescent rats received vehicle-only drinking water under identical laboratory housing conditions.
At 49 days of age, the rats underwent cognitive testing using the Morris Water Maze to assess spatial learning and memory. Following the completion of behavioral testing, the rats were euthanised, and their brains were harvested for analysis. The BPA-exposed group showed a 35% reduction in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and took many seconds longer to locate the hidden platform compared to the control group. There were no observable changes in general locomotor activity or physical health markers between the groups.
Justify whether the use of animals in this study was appropriate.
Practise Edexcel A Level Psychology Issues and debates with exam-style questions for A Level Psychology. 147 questions covering Issues and debates, matched to the Edexcel A Level Psychology (9PS0) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.
