title: Appropriate end points for the characterization of behavioral changes in developmental toxicology.
abstract: The present paper is devoted to second- and higher-tier test methods for the characterization of behavioral changes produced in rodents by exposure to noxious agents during development. The paper analyzes a series of end points that are informative about specific processes and underlying regulatory mechanisms but require greater technical sophistication and larger investments than first-tier end points. This applies to ultrasonic emissions in successive postnatal periods; to mother-pup interactions, including appropriate cross-fostering controls; to social (including sexual) interaction tests from the infantile to the young adult stage; and to a variety of conditioning and learning tests using both positive and negative reinforcement.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cuomo
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Salvia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petruzzi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alleva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004644:Emotions; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D011606:Psychosexual Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D012377:Rodentia; D012919:Social Behavior