title: Behavioral alterations in Lewis rats following two-day continuous 3-nitropropionic acid administration.
abstract: The mitochondrial toxin, 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), produces motor dysfunction and striatal atrophy in rats. However, rat strain and method of administration may contribute to variability in the deficits caused by 3-NP toxicity. To evaluate this, changes in nocturnal spontaneous locomotor activity from chronic administration of 3-NP using an osmotic mini pump, were examined in the Lewis rats. Lewis rats were treated with 3-NP or saline for 2 days and behavior was tested daily for a 15 day period. Animals receiving 3-NP displayed significantly less spontaneous activity than animals in the saline group. 3-NP treated animals also weighed significantly less when compared to saline treated animals. These results demonstrate that even though there were no significant alterations in overt anatomical pathology, even short-term exposure to 3-NP produced significant effects. This short-term administration may present a potential paradigm for examination of sub-threshold neurotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Road, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Newcomb
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garbuzova-Davis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saporta
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Sanberg
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Willing
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003292:Convulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051937:Dopamine and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein 32 / Q000378:metabolism; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011422:Propionates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003292:Convulsants; D051937:Dopamine and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein 32; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D011422:Propionates; C015392:3-nitropropionic acid