Biomaterial Database

Postnatal development of locomotor movements in normal and para-chlorophenylalanine-treated newborn rats. 1995

H Myoga, and S Nonaka, and K Matsuyama, and S Mori

Department of Otolaryngology, Asahikawa Medical College, Japan.

The contribution of the serotonergic system to postnatal development of locomotor movements in newborn Sprague-Dawley rats was studied from PND 1 to PND 15. To deplete serotonin (5-HT), p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) (200 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered at PND 1, 4, 7, 10 and 13, and the results obtained from PCPA-treated pups (n = 20) and control pups (n = 20) were compared. Locomotor movements of the pups on the surface of a digitizer table were measured by attaching a miniature coil to the abdomen of the pups. Video-recordings were made to study the locomotor movements. From PND 1 to PND 5, no significant difference in body weights and locomotor movements was observed across control and PCPA-treated pups. After PND 6, the development of PCPA-treated pups was slightly retarded although both groups of pups opened their eyes at PND 14. Throughout PND 6 to PND 15, the total distance and mean velocity of locomotor movements were significantly lower in PCPA-treated pups than in the control pups. In addition, forelimb and hindlimb movements were not well coordinated in the former. These results suggest that retardation of locomotor movements in the PCPA-treated pups is due to a possible failure in the postnatal development of 5-HT and other neural mechanisms related to postural and locomotor control, and not due to that of general development of the pups themselves.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008124	Locomotion	Movement or the ability to move from one place or another. It can refer to humans, vertebrate or invertebrate animals, and microorganisms.	Locomotor Activity,Activities, Locomotor,Activity, Locomotor,Locomotor Activities
D008297	Male		Males
D009043	Motor Activity	Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon.	Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D009068	Movement	The act, process, or result of passing from one place or position to another. It differs from LOCOMOTION in that locomotion is restricted to the passing of the whole body from one place to another, while movement encompasses both locomotion but also a change of the position of the whole body or any of its parts. Movement may be used with reference to humans, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, and microorganisms. Differentiate also from MOTOR ACTIVITY, movement associated with behavior.	Movements
D010134	Fenclonine	A selective and irreversible inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase, a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin (5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE). Fenclonine acts pharmacologically to deplete endogenous levels of serotonin.	p-Chlorophenylalanine,para-Chlorophenylalanine,CP-10,188,DL-3-(4-Chlorophenyl)alanine,Fenclonin,Fenclonine (L)-Isomer,Fenclonine Hydrobromide,Fenclonine Hydrochloride,Fenclonine, (D)-Isomer,Hydrobromide, Fenclonine,Hydrochloride, Fenclonine,para Chlorophenylalanine
D011187	Posture	The position or physical attitude of the body.	Postures
D001835	Body Weight	The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms.	Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000831	Animals, Newborn	Refers to animals in the period of time just after birth.	Animals, Neonatal,Animal, Neonatal,Animal, Newborn,Neonatal Animal,Neonatal Animals,Newborn Animal,Newborn Animals