Chronic mercuric chloride: behavioral effects in pigeons

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(77)90050-0· OSTI ID:5069620

Leander, J D; McMillan, D E; Barlow, T S

The effects of daily doses (1, 3, 10 mg/kg, im) of mercuric chloride were studied in pigeons responding under multiple fixed-ratio, fixed-interval schedules of food presentation. The effects also were studied in pigeons responding under a multiple fixed-ratio schedule which had several intensities of a visual stimulus controlling the performance and under a repeated acquisition schedule which required the pigeon to learn a different four-step, three-position sequence every test day. Across all test conditions, the daily doses of 1 mg/kg produced some increases in the variability of the rates of responding, but no consistent decreases. Daily doses of 3 and 10 mg/kg reliably decreased responding, and these decreases disappeared gradually after daily dosing was discontinued. Daily 10 mg/kg doses in three birds which were not being tested killed two birds after 17 and 28 injections, but the third bird survived 60 injections.

• Research Organization: Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• OSTI ID: 5069620
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 14:3; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550100 -- Behavioral Biology
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIRDS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
FOOD
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INJECTION
INTAKE
MERCURY CHLORIDES
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
PIGEONS
STIMULI
SURVIVAL TIME
VERTEBRATES