Appropriate end points for the characterization of behavioral changes in developmental toxicology.
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.
Cuomo
V
V
Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bari, Italy.
De Salvia
M A
MA
Petruzzi
S
S
Alleva
E
E
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