Cortical damage enhances pemoline-induced self-injurious behavior in prepubertal rats

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a devastating characteristic of several developmental disorders including a number of mental retardation syndromes. The functional neuroanatomy and neuropharmacology of SIB is not well understood. Self-biting behavior (SBB) can be induced in rats by a high dose, systemic injection of pemoline (250 mg/kg, SC). This animal model allows for the investigation of anatomical and pharmacological aspects of SIB. Cortical pathology is a common occurrence in human disorders with SIB, and may be a fundamental pathological factor in producing the behavior. The present experiment was designed to investigate the effects of cortical damage on pemoline-induced SBB in prepubertal rats. Bilateral cortical aspirations were performed in 3-5-week-old rats. One week postsurgery, a pemoline challenge was administered. Behavioral comparisons were completed between the lesion group and an anesthetized-only control group. Results indicated that cortical damage significantly enhanced pemoline-induced SBB, along with some of the other pemoline-induced stereotypical behaviors. These results support the hypothesis that cortical damage influences the expression of stimulant-induced self-injury, and potential mechanisms for this influence are suggested.