Early behavioral abnormalities in mice due to scrapie virus encephalopathy
McFarland, D.; Hotchin, J.
Biological Psychiatry 15(1): 37-44
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0006-3223 PMID: 7357057 Document Number: 157516
The behavioral effects of scrapie virus infection, a slow degenerative disease of the central nervous system, were examined in mice. Testing was conducted at 50, 100, and 150 days postinfection and included open-field behavior, Y-maze alternation and activity, and two-way shuttle-box avoidance. The behavioral pathology was found to be task-specific rather than of a global nature. Furthermore, the effects observed could be classified as either early or late components of the disease. The relevance of this animal model to human presenile dementias is discussed.