OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of automotive paint volatile on the learning and memory ability and its influence mechanism of the amino acid neurotransmitters in the brain tissue of mice. METHODS: Thirty specific pathogen free healthy male Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group,primer group and topcoat group,10 mice in each group. By static inhalation intoxication method,the primer group and topcoat group were exposed to corresponding paint volatile 600 and 580 mg / m3 respectively every day for 4 weeks,6 days per week,one time a day,2 hours each time.The mice of the control group were kept in the exposure cabinet without any paint volatile. After the exposure,the neuroethology examination was carried out by Morris water maze test. The amino acid levels of glutamic acid( GLU),aspartic acid( ASP),γ-aminobutyric acid( GABA) and glycine( GLY) in brain tissue of mice were detected by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Compared with the control group,the escape latency and the first crossing platform time were longer( P < 0. 05),target quadrant staying time and platform crossing times were decreased( P <0. 05),and the levels of GLU,ASP,GABA and GLY in brain tissues were decreased in the primer group and the topcoat group( P < 0. 05). There was no significant difference between the primer group and the topcoat group in the above indexes( P > 0. 05). CONCLUSION: Automotive paint volatiles exposure may lower the learning and memory abilities of mice,and could reduce the secretion of amino acid neurotransmitters in the brain tissue of mice.