BEHAVIOR OF RATS AFTER PERINATAL EXPOSURE TO PLASTIC COLLAR IMPREGNATED WITH DICHLORVOS.

Abstract

The use of plastic collars impregnated with the organophosphate dichlorvos is a measure taken in veterinary medicine to control ectoparasites in dogs and cats.  The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the use of plastic collars impregnated with this product (8.37%) in Wistar rats during the periods of pregnancy and lactation, as a cause of behavioral alterations in the offspring. No statistically significant differences were detected in the variables examined in open-field behavior for pups whose mothers were exposed to dichlorvos during pregnancy.  However, when exposure to the pesticide was during the lactation period, the pups showed prolonged immobility and decrease in the frequencies of grooming and urination, suggesting alterations in behavior. Although tests with the elevated T maze did not demonstrate any alteration suggesting an effect of the treatments on the anxiety of the animals, the results obtained in the evaluation of learning and memory, in the Morris water maze, revealed alterations in the female pups whose mothers were exposed to dichlorvos during the periods of pregnancy and lactation. This study showed that perinatal exposure of mothers to dichlorvos caused alterations in the behavior of offspring in open field and Morris water maze tests.

KEY WORDS: 2,2 - Dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate. Flea collar. Open field. Elevated T maze. Morris water maze.