Effects of prenatal x-irradiation on motor performance in the rat

Abstract

Gravid albino rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain received either 25, 50, or 100 r whole-body X-radiation on either day 5, 10, 15, or 20 of gestation. Controls were sham-irradiated. Over 500 surviving offspring were evaluated on measures of motor maturation of the upright and righting responses, motor strength, and locomotor learning during the neonatal period. The results indicate that radiation exposure of 100 r on day 15 of gestation retards motor maturation of the upright and righting responses. Almost all of the radiation groups show a decrease in motor strength as compared to the control group with maximum deficits in the groups receiving 50 or 100 r on day 10 or 15 of gestation. On the locomotor learning measure, the results are not consistent, but the group receiving 100 r on day 15 of gestation is maximally affected. These deficits in motor performance are related to observable motor impairment. It is concluded that low levels of radiation received prenatally can have detrimental effects on the development of motor performances in the rat.

Prenatal psychological stress and offspring behavior in rats and mice

“…Clearly, further experiments are required on this subject, especially since workers studying other sorts of prenatal factors have found that the timing of the independent variable can be a major factor in determining the offspring's response (e.g., Furchtgott, Echols, & Openshaw, 1958;Werboff, Goodman, Havlena, & Sikov, 1961;Werboff, Havlena, & Sikov, 1962).…”

“…Although there is not sufficient evidence to draw any general conclusions from these studies, the results obtained by Morra, Bell et al and Thompson et al suggest that stressors acting at different times during pregnancy produced different responses in the offspring. Clearly, further experiments are required on this subject, especially since workers studying other sorts of prenatal factors have found that the timing of the independent variable can be a major factor in determining the offspring's response (e.g., Furchtgott, Echols, & Openshaw, 1958;Werboff, Goodman, Havlena, & Sikov, 1961;Werboff, Havlena, & Sikov, 1962).…”

Effects of 0.6-Gy Prenatal X Irradiation on Postnatal Neurophysiologic Development in the Wistar Rat

“…Locomotor skill was impaired in rats prenatally irradiated on Day 14 with 0.5 Gy (26). A dose of 1.0 Gy on Day 15 of rat gestation caused an abnormal gait, decreased motor maturation and strength, and retarded loco-motor learning in rats (42). Exposure at the 0.25 Gy or 0.50 Gy level on Day 10 or 20 significantly facilitated performance in a Lashley I11 maze (43), and similar exposure levels on Days 15 or 20 caused increased audiogenic seizures (44).…”

“…Generally a rad and a roentgen vary only slightly (1.0 rad = 1.0 R). Several studies have been completed in which behavioral alterations were observed following low dose prenatal exposure (39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46).…”

EFFECTS OF RADIATION ON THE BEHAVIOR OF ANIMALS: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. Appendix to 1972 Progress Report.

“…For most of their life span, prenatally irradiated rats showed more active cage-motility than did controls and they were more reactive to changes in environmental lighting as measured by cage-motility (Morgan, 1967). Werboff et al (1961), on the other hand, demonstrated that prenatal x-irradiation of rats leads to ataxia, tremor, a retardation of the upright and righting responses and an inability to develop appropriate locomotor responses with the hind legs. A generalized depression in activity also occurs (Werboff et al, 1962).…”