Locomotor behavior in mice following exposure to fission-neutron irradiation and trauma.
Locomotor activity, body weights, and food and water consumption were monitored in female mice for 35 d following a sublethal wound (W), burn (B), exposure to 3 Gray fission neutron radiation (R), or combination of these injuries: radiation-wound (RW) and radiation-burn (RB). Activity in groups W and RW was depressed immediately after injury, with recovery to control levels after 5 and 14 d, respectively. Mice that received radiation alone showed a biphasic response with decrements in activity on days 0-4 and 9-11. Groups B and RB exhibited depressed activity levels that differed significantly from control levels until day 17. Food intake was reduced for about 6 d in groups R, W, RW, and RB. Body weights decreased for 4 d in groups R, W, RW, and RB, but returned to control levels by the end of the experiment. Animals in group B did not show significant reduction in food intake or body weight. Water consumption was reduced for 5-6 d in groups R and RB and was increased in groups W, RW, and B. The data suggest that behavioral responses to fission-neutron radiation are exacerbated by tissue trauma.
Department of Behavioral Sciences, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-5145.
M R
MR
Landauer
G D
GD
Ledney
H D
HD
Davis
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000528:radiation effects; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004326:Drinking / Q000528:radiation effects; D004435:Eating / Q000528:radiation effects; D005214:Fast Neutrons; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*