[The effects of neonatal saline injections on behaviours in DBA/2 male mice]

DBA/2 male mice were exposed to the injections of the saline (0.01 ml/g i.p.) on 1-th, 3-th, 5-th, 7-th, 9-th days after birth. Intact males were used as a control group. Adult saline-treated males displayed the increased number of crossed squares, entries in the centre and time spent in the centre during the open "field" test in comparison with intact animals. The time spent in the light compartment of the light-dark box was decreased in saline treated mice compared with intact animals. During the test of acoustic startle response the magnitude of startle reflex and prepulse inhibition didn't change the startle reflex. Saline administration in males did not affect corticosterone basal level. Sexual motivation was revealed to decrease in saline treated males. These data suggest that neonatal administration of saline induced a stable behavioral syndrome in adult DBA/2 male mice: hyperactivity, a decrease of open space fear and simultaneously an increase of some indices of anxiety.