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T-maze performance after developmental exposure to 19F tagged 5-HTP in chicks
Sherry Dingman1, Laurie Nash, Jeremy Hogan
1Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA. Sherry.Dingman@marist.edu
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|January 15, 2005
Summary
Administering a novel fluorine-tagged compound (PF-5HTP) during embryonic development did not affect chick behavior in a T-maze task. This suggests the compound is safe for use in developmental studies involving magnetic resonance imaging.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- The development of novel compounds for medical imaging, such as magnetic resonance (MR), requires rigorous safety and efficacy testing.
- Fluorine-19 (19F) atom tags are increasingly used in MR imaging due to their sensitivity and specificity.
- Understanding the potential impact of these tagged compounds on neurodevelopment is crucial, particularly for substances interacting with neurotransmitter systems like serotonin.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavioral effects of administering a novel 19F-tagged compound, PF-5HTP, during embryonic development in chicks.
- To assess whether PF-5HTP exposure impacts the development and function of serotonin pathways.
- To evaluate the compound's suitability for use in MR studies involving developing organisms.
Main Methods:
- Chicks were exposed in ovo to either PF-5HTP, its non-tagged precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), or a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) vehicle.
- Post-hatching, chicks underwent a T-maze task designed to assess social behavior and distress, sensitive to serotonin pathway function.
- Performance was evaluated across two trials within a three-hour period using repeated-measures analysis of variance.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant main effect for trial was observed, indicating learning or adaptation within the task.
- No significant differences in T-maze performance were found between the groups that received PF-5HTP, 5-HTP, or the PBS vehicle.
- Low-dose administration of the fluorine-tagged compound during development did not impair chick performance on the T-maze task.
Conclusions:
- The novel 19F-tagged compound, PF-5HTP, does not appear to adversely affect chick behavior or serotonin pathway function at the tested developmental stage and dose.
- These findings support the potential use of PF-5HTP in developmental MR studies without apparent behavioral impairment.
- Further research may explore dose-response relationships and long-term effects, but initial results are promising for imaging applications in developmental neuroscience.