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NEUROBEHAVIORAL TESTING IN ANIMALS AND THE APPLICATION TO RISK ASSESSMENT.
Citation:
Moser, V C. NEUROBEHAVIORAL TESTING IN ANIMALS AND THE APPLICATION TO RISK ASSESSMENT. Presented at California EPA Workshop - Children's Environmental Health, Monterey, CA, 4/23-24/2001.
Description:
Neurobehavioral evaluations are emerging as a key component in neurotoxicity testing. The tests most often used for screening are the functional observational battery (FOB) and motor activity. The FOB is a series of non-invasive observational and manipulative measures which assess the neurological, motor, and functional integrity of the rat. Motor activity is an objective, apical measure of neural function. These methods have been widely used with a variety of chemicals. Data interpretation requires a consideration of the overall profile of effects, which may be more valuable than alterations on individual endpoints. Concerns regarding validity and reliability of observational methods was addressed in an international multi-laboratory study on these methods. That study indicated that all laboratories could characterize the effects of known neurotoxicants. Statistical analysis of the data provided reliability of each endpoint in detecting treatment effects. In addition, the data provided important information on baseline control data over a range of laboratory conditions. Since most of the observations are subjective, the quality of the test data depends largely on the observer's ability to detect and describe changes in the rat's behavioral and neurologic function; thus, observer training and proper conduct of the study are critical. Neurobehavioral assessments are now standard and accepted in adult neurotoxicity studies; there is also growing interest in testing laboratory animals at very young ages. The FOB, with modifications of the individual test measures to make them age-appropriate, can be useful in detecting behavioral and neurological changes in young rats. We have evaluated pre- and postweanling rats to learn the range of behaviors at each age and to document the ontogeny of each of the FOB endpoints.
This presentation will present data on the depth and breadth of FOB studies, characteristics of the endpoints and validation of the test methods, as well as promote an understanding and appreciation of advantages and limitations of behavioral test batteries.
This is an abstract of a proposed presentation and does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.