Behavioral teratology--results achieved and perspectives of development

The objective of behavioral teratology is to throw light on the consequences of prenatal effect of the agent on varying aspects of the functional state of the nervous system. In the present paper, the author proposes Carbendazim as a model of Type 1 behavioral teratogen (agent provoking morphological anomalies in the CNS). On this model, the author studied the sensitivity of a group of primary screening tests proposed in the literature, introducing semiquantitative and quantitative criteria for determining the level of response. The study of the postural reflex and behaviour in the open field were found to be the most sensitive. The latter also provides the possibility of demonstrating some qualitative deviations in behaviour, such as the "jumping" gait.