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Behavioral alterations in lewis rats following two-day continuous 3-nitropropionic acid administration

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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 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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair Department of, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL, USA

    J. D. Newcomb, W. D. Brown, S. Garbuzova-Davis, S. Saporta, P. R. Sanberg & A. E. Willing

  2. Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair Department of Neurosurgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL, USA

    J. D. Newcomb, W. D. Brown & S. Garbuzova-Davis

  3. Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair Department of Anatomy, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL, USA

    W. D. Brown

  4. Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL, USA

    S. Saporta

  5. Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair Department of Pathology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL, USA

    A. E. Willing

  6. Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair Department of Psychiatry, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL, USA

    P. R. Sanberg

  7. Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA

    A. I. Rodriguez

Authors
  1. J. D. Newcomb
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  2. W. D. Brown
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  3. A. I. Rodriguez
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  4. S. Garbuzova-Davis
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  5. S. Saporta
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  6. P. R. Sanberg
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  7. A. E. Willing
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Correspondence to A. E. Willing.

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Newcomb, J.D., Brown, W.D., Rodriguez, A.I. et al. Behavioral alterations in lewis rats following two-day continuous 3-nitropropionic acid administration. neurotox res 8, 259–265 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03033979

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03033979

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