Late embryonic exposure to all-trans retinoic acid induces a pattern of motor deficits unrelated to the developmental stage.
The present study extends previous investigations examining the behavioral outcomes of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) exposure at embryonic (E) days 14-16. A sublethal dose (2.5 mg/kg b.w.) compatible with high neonatal survival sufficient to supply offspring for later behavioral testing, was used. The results show that E14-16 RA exposure, similar to E8-10 or E11-13 (previous studies), impairs locomotor activity (open field test) as well as motor coordination and motor learning (rotarod/accelerod task) in young-adult rats. The results provide further evidence that RA exposure induces a pattern of motor deficits which are not strictly related to the embryonic stage, compatible with the protracted developmental profile of the cerebellum.
Coluccia
Addolorata
A
Department of Pharmacology and Human Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Bari, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Borracci
Pietro
P
Belfiore
Domenico
D
Renna
Giuseppe
G
Carratù
Maria Rosaria
MR
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test / Q000379:methods; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000633:toxicity*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014212:Tretinoin