Technology-assisted Neurobehavioral and Histomorphometric Assessment of Chronic Lead and Cadmium Exposure in an Animal Study

Abstract

Backgrounds: Heavy metals like lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are toxic environmental pollutants that cause serious health effects, particularly neurotoxicity, organ damage, and carcinogenic risks. Their combined exposure can enhance toxicity through synergistic interactions, increasing overall health hazards. Aims: To assess technology-assisted neurobehavioral and histomorphometry of chronic lead and cadmium exposure in an animal study Study Design: A qualitative study design was used. Place and Duration of Study: Departments of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, State University of Medical and Applied Health Sciences, Igbo-Eno, Nigeria, between July and September, 2025. Methodology: This study used twenty Wistar rats. The control group (I) received only feed and water. Group II received 40 mg/kg) of Cd, while groups III and IV received 50 mg/kg of Pb and 40 mg/kg of Cd plus 50 mg/kg of Pb, respectively, for 4 weeks. After the rats were euthanized under anesthesia, the hippocampal tissue was removed for histological analysis. Neurobehavioral assessments were performed employing standardized, technology-enhanced beam walk, rotarod, and Barnes maze paradigms; latency and error metrics were recorded via computer-assisted timing and video-tracking systems. Results: The results demonstrated that, compared to the control group, simultaneous exposure to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) resulted in deficits in neurobehavioral function, memory, and spatial learning, as assessed through technology-based neurobehavioral assays, thus amplifying neurotoxicity within the experimental groups. Moreover, the rats' locomotor activity was diminished by exposure to either Pb or Cd, with the combined exposure exacerbating this effect. Histopathological examinations, employing digitally assisted histomorphometric evaluation, disclosed significant brain damage, marked by inflammation, shrinkage, and degeneration of molecular, pyramidal, and multiform cell layers. Conclusion: This study offers a crucial theoretical foundation for the toxicity linked to mixed heavy metal exposure and underscores the value of technology-supported behavioral and histological platforms in experimental neurotoxicology.