Article: Effects of non-lethal doses of ionising radiation on the instrumental behaviour of rats Journal: International Journal of Low Radiation (IJLR) 2007 Vol.4 No.3 pp.232 - 247 Abstract: The dose-effect dependence of the instrumental behaviour of white rats after a single total γ-exposure (<SUP align="right"><SMALL>60</SMALL></SUP>Co) in the dosage range of 0.05 to 7.0 Gy was studied. Generalised results of seven years of our studies of post-radiation changes of operant behaviour in shuttle (active avoidance of shock – negative reinforcement) and in Skinner (drinking reward – positive reinforcement) boxes were evaluated weekly for a two-month period after exposure. The dose dependence, obtained using these two behavioural paradigms, displays a non-linear pattern. Three regions with different characteristic patterns of the observed effects were found: performance declines relative to control animals after exposure to doses up to 1.0 Gy; performance increases at doses in the range from 1.0 to 3.0 Gy; and again declines with dose increases up to 7.0 Gy. Possible underlying mechanisms, particularly the role of additional stress caused by animal testing, are discussed. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Effects of non-lethal doses of ionising radiation on the instrumental behaviour of rats

Authors: Eugene V. Tukalenko, Vyacheslav V. Varetsky, Olexander G. Rakochi, Inna R. Dmitrieva, Mikola U. Makarchuk

Addresses: Scientific Center for Radiation Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, 53 Melnikov Street, Kiev, 04050, Ukraine. ' Scientific Center for Radiation Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, 53 Melnikov Street, Kiev, 04050, Ukraine. ' Scientific Center for Radiation Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, 53 Melnikov Street, Kiev, 04050, Ukraine. ' Scientific Center for Radiation Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, 53 Melnikov Street, Kiev, 04050, Ukraine. ' Scientific Center for Radiation Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, 53 Melnikov Street, Kiev, 04050, Ukraine

Abstract: The dose-effect dependence of the instrumental behaviour of white rats after a single total γ-exposure (⁶⁰Co) in the dosage range of 0.05 to 7.0 Gy was studied. Generalised results of seven years of our studies of post-radiation changes of operant behaviour in shuttle (active avoidance of shock – negative reinforcement) and in Skinner (drinking reward – positive reinforcement) boxes were evaluated weekly for a two-month period after exposure. The dose dependence, obtained using these two behavioural paradigms, displays a non-linear pattern. Three regions with different characteristic patterns of the observed effects were found: performance declines relative to control animals after exposure to doses up to 1.0 Gy; performance increases at doses in the range from 1.0 to 3.0 Gy; and again declines with dose increases up to 7.0 Gy. Possible underlying mechanisms, particularly the role of additional stress caused by animal testing, are discussed.

Keywords: non-lethal ionising radiation; instrumental conditioned behaviour; rats; rat behaviour; dose dependence; seasonal peculiarities; biological effects; low radiation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2007.015819

International Journal of Low Radiation, 2007 Vol.4 No.3, pp.232 - 247

Published online: 20 Nov 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article

Title: Effects of non-lethal doses of ionising radiation on the instrumental behaviour of rats

Keep up-to-date