The effects of brain lesions on the "hopping reaction" in newborn and adult rabbits: a model for studying age dependent recovery.
In 5 groups of rabbits (0-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-7 and 12-13 weeks old) the left frontal, parieto-temporal and occipital cortex were removed. Beginning two weeks after the operations the hopping reaction was tested during 15 weeks. It was found in the groups operated 0-1, 2-3 and 4-5 weeks after birth, that the hopping reaction developed normally. This was not the case in the animals operated 6-7 and 12-13 weeks after birth. Brightness descrimination with the left and right eye was tested in the same animals, beginning 12 weeks after the operation. Contrary to the motor system, no age-development recovery was found in the visual system. In all age groups, brightness discrimination with the eye contralateral to the lesion was impaired.
van Hof
M W
MW
Department of Physiology I, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Hobbelen
J F
JF
Gramsbergen
A
A
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity; D011817:Rabbits; D014796:Visual Perception