Behavioral and pharmacological responses following acrylamide exposure in rats

The onset of acrylamide related toxicity and indications of recovery were evaluated using several behavioral tasks. Rats were chronically housed and tested for the first 15 weeks of the study in running wheels where food and water consumption and activity were continuously monitored. Separate groups of animals were repeatedly tested on at least one additional behavioral task: an operant schedule FR20 GO/NO-GO, spontaneous and drug-induced locomotor activity, drug-induced asymmetric rotation, or splaying of the hindlimbs. Animals were administered acrylamide monomer in their drinking water (100 ppm) for a six week period. Behavioral evaluations were initiated up to six weeks prior to acrylamide exposure and continued up to 12 weeks after termination of the exposure. Operant behavior and spontaneous locomotor activity in an open field were not affected by acrylamide exposure. Nocturnal activity in running wheels was decreased, and hindlimb splay increased by exposure to acrylamide. Subsequent to injections of d-amphetamine locomotor activity in an "open field" was markedly increased following exposure to acrylamide. d-Amphetamine induced asymmetric rotation was also altered following acrylamide exposure. It is suggested that this altered pharmacological response was due to an effect of acrylamide on hepatic mechanisms or on central dopaminergic function.