Avoidance facilitation in adult mice by prenatal administration of the nootropic drug oxiracetam

CD-1 mice prenatally exposed to saline solution or to the nootropic drug oxiracetam (50 mg/kg during the whole pregnancy) were tested, when adults, for locomotor activity and for shuttle-box avoidance acquisition. Prenatal drug exposure produced long-lasting effects, evident in mature offspring. At the age of two months, mice prenatally exposed to oxiracetam showed a slight but significant reduction in locomotor activity. At the age of three months, these animals exhibited higher performances than control mice in avoidance acquisition.