You are here:
DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROTOXICITY: EVALUATION OF TESTING PROCEDURES WITH METHYLAZOXYMETHANOL AND METHYLMERCURY
Citation:
Goldey, E., J. O'Callaghan, M. Stanton, S. Barone, Jr., AND K. Crofton. DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROTOXICITY: EVALUATION OF TESTING PROCEDURES WITH METHYLAZOXYMETHANOL AND METHYLMERCURY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-94/527.
Description:
Testing procedures that allow for early, rapid and cost-effective investigation of potential developmental neurotoxicants were evaluated using two prototypical developmental neurotoxicants, methylazoxymethanol (MAM) and methylmercury (MeHg). valuation of offspring of Long-Evans rats incorporated assessments of developmental toxicity, neurochemistry, histology and behavior, with most testing being completed near weaning. umber of endpoints in the testing strategy were sensitive to the effects of prenatal exposure to MAM [30 mg/kg on gestation day (GD) 15]: a modified Chernoff/Kavlock assay revealed reduced neonatal body weights but no effect on viability; measurement of total and regional brain weight and histological analysis showed that a number of regions, the cortex and hippocampus in particular, were affected by MAM exposure; an assay for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) showed that the concentration of this protein was significantly increased n he ortex and hippocampus f reated ffspring; he -maze elayed-alternation procedure indicated that MAM-treated pups were slower in he cquisition phase of the ask elative o ontrol ups; otor ctivity esting revealed yperactivity n reated offspring that persisted into adulthood; and acoustic startle procedures revealed reduced startle