Thiamine Deficiency, Infantile Manipulation and Startle Response in Rats

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Abstract
Two experiments were designed to reveal changes in startle response to electric shock in preclinically thiamine-deficient rats. In experiment 1, it was demonstrated that increased Ds (specific displacement or vertical displacement following electric shock/100 g body weight) occurred in rats following thiamine depletion for 10 days. A similar effect was observed with infantile manipulation, but combining both factors ameliorated the effect of the vitamin B1-deficiency. In experiment 2, the effect of electric shock on Ds was measured in normal animals and in animals depleted for 4, 7, 10, and 13 days. Although there were no significant differences in body weight, thereby suggesting a state of preclinical deficiency, the transketolase activity of erythrocytes was progressively diminished, and Ds progressively increased from the fourth day. The measurement of Ds may provide an additional behavioral parameter for marginal nutritional deficiency in rats.