THE EFFECTS OF POSTPARTUM EXPOSURE TO TRIETHYL TIN ON THE NEURO-BEHAVIORAL FUNCTIONING OF RATS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 2  (2) , 283-296
Abstract
Male and female Fischer rat pups recived s.c. injections of 1.5 or 3 mg/kg triethyl tin bromide (TET), ethanol vehicle or distilled water on day 5 postpartum. At 21, 28, 60 and 90 days of age, the rats were weighed and assessed in a battery of tests which included fore- and hindlimb grip strength, negative geotaxis, startle responsiveness and spontaneous motor activity. Animals at 60 days of age were also tested in a 2-way shuttle box avoidance procedure. Exposure to TET did not affect body weight at any time during testing, negative geotaxis or grip strength. Startle response to an air puff stimulus was decreased in males and females at 21 and 60 days of age; no effects were observed at 28 or 90 days of age. Responsiveness to an acoustic stimulus was decreased at 60 days of age only. Spontaneous motor activity of males was increased at 21, 28 and 60 days of age; females had elevated activity at 28 and 60 days of age. Relative to ethanol controls rats of both sexes were significantly hypoactive at 90 days of age. In a 2-way shuttle box procedure, latencies to emerge prior to the 1st trial were elevated in TET exposed male and female rats. The number of discriminated avoidance responses made during a 60 trial session was decreased in females receiving 3 mg/kg dose. Activity during the intertrial interval was not affected. A single postnatal exposure to TET produced long-term alterations in the sensorimotor capabilities of rats. The effect occurred equally in both sexes and was independent of toxicant-induced body weight changes.