Effects of Aldrin acute administration on open field behavior and seizure of rats

Abstract

The acute symptoms of organochIoride intoxication in rats were observed and described in details. In addition, it was study the effects of subconvuIsivant doses of Aldrin (10, 20 or 30 mg/kg) on general activity of rats observed in an open-field. Thus, the following symptoms were observed after acute Aldrin in toxications: motor incoordination, decreased activity, muscular shakes, contractions of the muscles of the abdominal region, salivation and compulsive gnawing, postural immobility with "fixed eye” and tonicclonic convulsions followed or not by rats death. The convulsant and lethal doses of Aldrin were, respectively, 52.0 mg/kg (47.3 - 57.2) and 60.5 mg/kg (46.2 - 79.3). It was possible also observed that both locomotion and rearing frequencies of rats treated with subconvulsivant Aldrin doses decreased in relation of the control animals; contrary, immobility duration was higher in the experimental animals treated with Aldrin. It was suggested that reduction in general activity was related to a decreased brain catecholamines levels induced by the pesticide.