Abstract
Abstract : Several recent neurophysiological findings in the study of 1, 1- dimethylhydrazine toxicity have suggested that this substance initiates a gradual increase in central nervous system (CNS) excitability, leading eventually to general convulsions. This process, however, is periodically interrupted by episodes of recovery or suppression of excitability. In the present experiment an attempt was made to investigate the nature of this alternation in response to low doses of UDMH, using the performance of a locomotor task as a measure of CNS effects. Cats were trained and tested in a special runway apparatus to provide a reliable indication of performance changes over a 6 hour period following the administration of 4, 8, and 16 mg/kg UDMH. These low doses significantly altered locomotor performance in a predictable manner. The response to a given dose was both consistent and unique to that dose. Within the 6 hour period of measurement, 16 mg/kg caused a gradual reduction in performance velocity leading to a total disruption, which was then followed by a tendency to recover; 8 mg/kg produced a recurrent depression of velocity followed by an enhancement, and 4 mg/kg resulted in a biphasic depression facilitation response. Other more general findings are also discussed.
Published Version
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