Spontaneous locomotion

One component of behavior that is thought to contribute to the spontaneous locomotion of an animal in an open field situation involves the propensity of... 

Behavioral and emotional effects In animal studies, ginseng does not prolong pentobarbital-induced sleep, nor does it affect spontaneous locomotion (Mitra et al. 1996). It does potentiate amphetamine-induced locomotion, but it reduces the stereotypy and lethality caused by amphetamine. Ginseng has analgesic effects, which are discussed at greater length in chapter 8. Catalepsy induced by haloperidol is potentiated by ginseng, while the hyperthermic effect of 5-HTP is attenuated. No antiseizure effects have been observed. 

Spontaneous locomotion behavior was also evaluated in adult NMRI mice (4 months old) that were exposed as neonates on Pnds 3, 10, or 19 to a single oral dose of 8 mg/kg of 2,2, 4,4 -tetraBDE (Eriksson et al. 1999). A non-habituating behavior profile similar to that observed in the Eriksson et al. (1998, 2001) studies was observed in the mice treated at either 3 or 10 days of age. There was no effect on spontaneous activity in the mice treated at 19 days of age, suggesting that there was a critical window for the induction of behavioral disturbances. 

The present Section describes basic protocols satisfying ICH S7A recommendations for core battery CNS studies. Included are protocols for measuring general behavioral signs induced by test substances (Irwin Test), effects on spontaneous locomotion (Activity Meter Test), effects on neuromuscular coordination (Rotarod Test), effects on the convulsive threshold (Electroconvulsive Shock (ECS) Threshold and PTZ Seizure Tests), interaction with hypnotics (Barbital Interaction Test) and effects on the pain threshold (Hot Plate Test). 

Locomotor activity can be quantified in rodents by a variety of means, interruptions of photoelectric beams, activity wheels, changes in electromagnetic fields, Doppler effects, video-image analysis, telemetry (Reiter and McPhail 1979). As has been suggested above, it is not very important how locomotion is measured because the main outcome measure is whether a test substance increases or decreases spontaneous locomotion. 

Wicki, A., and Niggli, V. (2001) The Rho/ Rho-kinase and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways are essential for spontaneous locomotion ofWalker 256 carcinosarcoma cells. Int. J. Cancer 9, 763-771. 

Other animal studies have shown that acute and subacute exposure to GB can result in neurobehavioral changes in the test animals. Single intramuscular (i.m.) injections of 6 pg GB/kg to marmosets resulted in adverse behavioral effects when the animals were tested for hand-eye coordination, but no adverse effects were seen in a visual discrimation test (Wolthuis 1992). A dose of 3 pg/ kg had no adverse effects on behavior, and hand-eye coordination was improved in three of six animals (Wolthuis 1992). An intraperitoneal (i.p.) dose of 50 pg GB/kg resulted in decreases in rearing and grooming behavior and locomotive activity in male Wistar rats (Nieminen et al. 1990). A subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of 61 pg GB/kg increased spontaneous motor activity in male Sprague-Dawley rats a dose of 71 pg/kg produced conditioned flavor aversions 84 and 115 pg/kg caused significant decreases in spontaneous locomotive activity and... 

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