Onset of behavioral effects in mice exposed to 10-Gy 60Co radiation

Technical Report · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:5798136

Maier, D M; Landauer, M R

The effects of 10 Gray (Gy)60Co radiation on social behavior, locomotor activity, and body weight were assessed in individually housed male Swiss-Webster mice. In Experiment 1, aggressive behavior was evaluated prior to irradiation and for 7 d postirradiation by placing an untreated intruder in the irradiated or sham-irradiated resident's home cage for 5 min. Offensive aggressive behavior was not affected significantly by radiation until day 7 postirradiation, when attack latency increased, the frequency and duration of fighting decreased, and the frequency of bites, lunges, and chases decreased. Untreated intruder mice paired with irradiated resident mice showed a decrease in the duration of defensive upright postures, squeaks, and escapes on day 7 postirradiation. In Experiment 2, locomotor activity and body weight were monitored for 7 d postirradiation. Body weight was decreased in irradiated mice beginning 4 d postirradiation. Locomotor activity was suppressed in irradiated animals 90 min after irradiation and remained depressed throughout the 7-d testing period.

• Research Organization: Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Inst., Bethesda, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5798136
• Report Number(s): AD-A-231018/3/XAB; AFRRI-SR--90-35
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BEHAVIOR
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
COBALT 60
COBALT ISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IRRADIATION
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MICE
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOISOTOPES
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOT