Comparison of the Collaborative Behavioral Teratology Study and Cincinnati Behavioral Teratology test batteries

Comparison is made of the NCTR Collaborative Behavioral Teratology Study (CBTS) test battery with tests of the Cincinnati test battery using rat offspring derived from the same samples and sub-divided and evaluated in parallel. It was noted that in the two experiments, one using prenatal d-amphetamine and one prenatal methylmercury exposure, both test batteries were in general agreement, viz., d-amphetamine was largely negative with no major findings observed and methylmercury was positive with several major findings. The results obtained from the two test batteries differed, however, in the methylmercury experiments, undoubtedly as a reflection of the different tests used. Whereas the CBTS battery detected in each laboratory methylmercury-induced auditory startle facilitation, increased adult activity, and in all laboratories combined decreased correct responding and intertrial responding in operant conditioning, the Cincinnati battery found delayed righting and swimming ontogeny, decreased adolescent activity, and impaired complex water maze performance. It was noted that the CBTS battery emphasized startle and activity testing, while the Cincinnati battery emphasized reflex ontogeny. The CBTS battery convincingly demonstrated its detection sensitivity, intralaboratory and interlaboratory reliability, but since few positive control agents were evaluated relatively few data on criterion validity were obtained. The Cincinnati battery has relatively little data on its interlaboratory reliability, but a large amount of data on intralaboratory reliability, sensitivity, and through the use of many positive control agents in the past, considerable data establishing its criterion validity. All tests need all three characteristics, but validation is the most crucial task for future research on these and other test batteries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)