Chronic melamine cyanurate exposure impairs spatial learning and memory by altering autophagy-mediated synaptic plasticity and oxidative stress in the hippocampus of adolescent rats

Key Points

• Impairment of spatial learning and memory occurs due to chronic melamine cyanurate exposure in adolescent rats, affecting their cognitive abilities.
• Key evidence indicates that oxidative stress and altered autophagy pathways significantly disrupt synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of exposed rats.
• Assessment using established behavioral tests shows deteriorated cognitive performance correlating with melamine cyanurate exposure duration and intensity.
• Findings highlight critical neurotoxic mechanisms, with implications for understanding cognitive deficits resulting from environmental contaminant exposure.