Acute Effects of Amitraz on the Acoustic Startle Response and Motor Activity

摘要

To characterize further the behavioral toxicity of amitraz, comparisons were made between the effects of amitraz on motor activity, the acoustic startle response, body temperature, and body weight in male Long-Evans rats. Acute dosage-effect and time-course determinations of motor activity were made using figure-eight mazes. Dosage-effect and time-course determinations for the acoustic startle response were measured using a 13 KHZ, 120 dB(A), 40 ms tone as the eliciting stimulus, at each of three background white-noise levels. Amitraz was administered orally in the vehicle ('Emulphor'+ethanol+saline,d a dosage- and time-dependent decrease in motor activity which lasted from 4 to 96 h post-administration. The effects of amitraz on the acoustic startle response consisted of an increased latency and a decreased amplitude and sensitization. The time-course of effects on the acoustic startle response were more transient (4-24 h) than the effects on motor activity. Amitraz-exposed animals had decreased body weight that did not return to control levels until 120 h (five days) post-administration. (Copyright (c) 1989 Society of Chemical Industry.)