Effects of PCB Exposure on Rat Behavior
Author Information
Author(s): Espen Borgå, Monica Knoff, Frode Fonnum, Per Leines Lausund, S Ivar Walaas, Grete Wøien, Terje Sagvolden
Primary Institution: University of Oslo
Hypothesis
Does postnatal exposure to different PCBs affect activity levels and stimulus control in rats?
Conclusion
Exposure to PCBs 153 and 180 resulted in reduced activity levels in rats, while no effects were observed from PCB 52.
Supporting Evidence
- PCB exposure did not produce behavioral changes during training with frequent reinforcement.
- Animals exposed to PCB 153 or PCB 180 were less active than controls.
- Stimulus control was better in animals exposed to PCB 180 compared to controls.
Takeaway
Rats that were exposed to certain chemicals called PCBs were less active than those that weren't, but the chemical PCB 52 didn't seem to change anything.
Methodology
Male Wistar Kyoto rats were exposed to PCBs at specific postnatal days and then tested for behavioral changes using an operant procedure.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small control group size and the age differences in additional controls.
Limitations
The control group was smaller than planned, which may affect the reliability of the results.
Participant Demographics
Male Wistar Kyoto rats, with a total of 29 subjects across four groups.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.011 for stimulus control; p < 0.001 for activity level; p = 0.009 for responses with short IRTs.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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