Delayed Development of Righting Reflexes in Offspring of Manganese-Deficient Rats.

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Abstract
Development of righting reflexes was studied in offspring of Mn-deficient and normal rats. The reflexes concerned with the turnover test developed at an earlier age than did those involved in the air-righting response, but in both tests, the Mn-deficient young exhibited a marked delay in development of reflexes responsible for righting reactions. At 12 days of age, 100% of normal animals were capable of turning over in 2.5 seconds or less, as compared with 48% of deficient offspring. At 18 days of age, all normal animals were able to right themselves in air, while only 54% of Mn-deficient young showed a positive response. Not until 50 days of age did all of the Mn-deficient rats tested exhibit the positive reaction. The implications of these results with respect to the congenital ataxia of Mn-deficient offspring are discussed.