title: Cortical damage enhances pemoline-induced self-injurious behavior in prepubertal rats.
abstract: Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a devastating characteristic of several developmental disorders including a number of mental retardation syndromes. The functional neuroanatomy and neuropharmacology of SIB is not well understood. Self-biting behavior (SBB) can be induced in rats by a high dose, systemic injection of pemoline (250 mg/kg, SC). This animal model allows for the investigation of anatomical and pharmacological aspects of SIB. Cortical pathology is a common occurrence in human disorders with SIB, and may be a fundamental pathological factor in producing the behavior. The present experiment was designed to investigate the effects of cortical damage on pemoline-induced SBB in prepubertal rats. Bilateral cortical aspirations were performed in 3-5-week-old rats. One week postsurgery, a pemoline challenge was administered. Behavioral comparisons were completed between the lesion group and an anesthetized-only control group. Results indicated that cortical damage significantly enhanced pemoline-induced SBB, along with some of the other pemoline-induced stereotypical behaviors. These results support the hypothesis that cortical damage influences the expression of stimulant-induced self-injury, and potential mechanisms for this influence are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Cromwell
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010389:Pemoline; D051381:Rats; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*