Development of behavioral function of cerebellar hypoplasia rats as induced by cytosine arabinoside (ara-C)
Ogura, H.; Mikami, T.; Takamura, N.; Suzuki, Y.; Chiba, T.
Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi. Folia Pharmacologica Japonica 76(1): 33-44
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-5691 PMID: 6155317 Document Number: 156416
Cytosine arabinoside (ara-C), an antiproliferative agent, was given s.c. to Sprague-Dawley rats on the 2nd-4th postnatal day in doses of 12.5 and 25 mg/kg per day. Body weight and viability were dose-dependently inhibited. The appearance of audio-startle response was delayed in the group on the high dose and up to 21 days of age, the ambulatory behavior resembled that seen in geriatric rats. The free-fall righting reflex failed to appear in the treated groups. The open field test revealed that only the treated females were hypoactive. The treated group showed a poor neuro-muscular ability in the rotarod performance and impairment of acquiring conditioned and unconditioned avoidance response in pole climbing. Histopathological and biochemical studies revealed a hypoplasia of the cerebellum. These findings are suggestive of behavioral dysfunction caused by ara-C-induced cerebellar disorders.