Neurobehavioral effects of the calcium ionophore A23187

The divalent cationic ionophore A23187 (calimycin) facilitates the transport of calcium ions across biological membranes, resulting in an increase of cytosolic calcium. A23187 has been used extensively in vitro to activate calcium-dependent neurocellular processes. Because of its potential usefulness as a neurotoxicological probe, our laboratory conducted a series of studies to characterize the neurofunctional consequences of A23187 in the intact organism. In addition to approximating the LD50, the effects of acute parenteral administration of A23187 on conditioned avoidance, nociceptive shock threshold, open-field activity, consummatory behavior, body temperature and neuromotor function, including general activity, coordination, balance and grip strength, were assessed in the rodent. The LD50 of A23187, administered intraperitoneally to adult male rats, was 9.2 mg/kg. The predominant overt signs of toxicity included lethargy, limb weakness and apnea. Lower doses, from 0.5 to 0.03 mg/kg, produced a variety of more subtle neurobehavioral effects, including a selective depression of motor activity, a moderate elevation of shock threshold, altered conditioned avoidance behavior and hypothermia.