title: Onset of behavioral effects in mice exposed to 10 Gy 60Co radiation.
abstract: The effects of 10 Gray (Gy) 60 Co radiation on social behavior, locomotor activity, and body weight were assessed in individually housed male Swiss-Webster mice. In Experiment 1, aggressive behavior was evaluated prior to irradiation and for 7 d postirradiation by placing an untreated intruder in the irradiated or sham-irradiated resident's home cage for 5 min. Offensive aggressive behavior was not affected significantly by radiation until day 7 postirradiation, when attack latency increased, the frequency and duration of fighting decreased, and the frequency of bites, lunges, and chases decreased. Untreated intruder mice paired with irradiated resident mice showed a decrease in the duration of defensive upright postures and a decrease in the frequency of defensive upright postures, squeaks, and escapes on day 7 postirradiation. In Experiment 2, locomotor activity and body weight were monitored for 7 d postirradiation. Body weight was decreased in irradiated mice beginning 4 d postirradiation. Locomotor activity was suppressed in irradiated animals 90 min after irradiation and remained depressed throughout the 7-d testing period.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Department, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814-5145.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Landauer
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000528:radiation effects; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000528:radiation effects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000528:radiation effects; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes