Abstract |
Neurobehavioral techniques have been used extensively in animal toxicology studies because, in many cases, such procedures are designed to evaluate neurobiological functions thought to be affected in chemical-exposed humans, e.g., changes in sensorimotor function. Procedures used to identify or screen for the presence of neurotoxicity are usually designed to test large numbers of animals and are not considered to be as sensitive to subtle effects as more specialized tests for neurobiological dysfunction. For purposes of screening, the use of a functional observational battery (FOB) is now generally accepted. In general, FOB evaluations in animals are similar to clinical neurological examinations in humans in that they rate the presence and, in some cases, the severity of behavioral and neurological signs. A number of batteries containing different observations and measurements have been developed in several laboratories for rodents, dogs, and non-human primates. (Copyright (c) 1992 Intox Press, Inc.) |