Long-term behavioral consequences of soman poisoning in mice.
We investigated the long-term (up to 90 days) consequences of soman intoxication in mice on weight, motor performances (grip strength, rotarod) and mnemonic cognitive processes (T-maze, Morris water maze test). First, a relative weight loss of 20%, measured 3 days after intoxication, was evidenced as a threshold beyond which neuropathological damage was observed in the hippocampus. Animals were then distributed into either low weight loss (LWL) or high weight loss (HWL) groups according to the relative 20% weight loss threshold. Compared to controls, both groups of poisoned mice quickly exhibited a decrease in their motor performance subsequent to an acute soman toxicity phase. Then, total motor recovery occurred for the LWL group. Comparatively, HWL mice showed only transient recovery prior to a second decrease phase due to soman-induced delayed toxicity. One month after intoxication, mnemonic cognitive performances of the LWL group were similar to controls while the HWL group did not exhibit any learning skill. Three months after poisoning, compared to controls, the LWL group showed similar mnemonic performances in the maze test but a mild deficit in the Morris water maze task. At the same time, learning skills slightly recovered in the HWL group. Mnemonic cognitive data are discussed in relation to the neuropathology, neurogenesis and sprouting occurring in the hippocampus of soman-intoxicated animals.
Filliat
Pierre
P
Département de Toxicologie, Centre de Recherches du Service de Santé des Armées Emile Pardé, 24 Avenue des Maquis du Grésivaudan, B.P. 87, 38702 La Tronche Cedex, France. pierrefilliat@crssa.net
Coubard
Stéphanie
S
Pierard
Christophe
C
Liscia
Pierrette
P
Beracochea
Daniel
D
Four
Elise
E
Baubichon
Dominique
D
Masqueliez
Catherine
C
Lallement
Guy
G
Collombet
Jean-Marc
JM
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000506:poisoning*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D012999:Soman / Q000506:poisoning*
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D012999:Soman