**3.3 Drug administration**

The test drugs were reconstituted into appropriate concentrations as follows: 500 mg of CdCl2 was dissolved in 10,000 ml of distilled water; (50 ppm). 400 mg of vitamin E was dissolved in 5 ml of castor oil. 100 mg of zinc was dissolved in 69 ml of normal saline.

The CdCl2 was administered orally with the aid of an orogastric cannula to the mice in group B for a period of 14 days (short-term exposure), while to the mice in group C, it was administered for 28 days (long-term exposure). Mice in groups D and E received same dose of CdCl2 for 14 days but in addition they were given zinc and vitamin E, respectively. Following the Light and Dark Transition Box (LDTB) and Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) paradigms, anxiety-like behaviors were assessed at the conclusion of the treatment session.
