Effects of chlordane on conditioned avoidance response, brain seizure threshold and open‐field performance of prenatally‐treated mice

Abstract

1 Three groups of six pregnant albino mice at the third stage of gestation were given chlordane 1 or 2·5 mg/kg body weight or olive oil 10 ml/kg. They were dosed orally for seven consecutive days. 2 Ten young mice, regardless of sex, were randomly selected from the progeny of each group of treated mothers and tested for conditioned avoidance response, electroshock seizure threshold, and open-field performance. 3 Offspring of chlordane-treated mice made fewer conditioned avoidance responses than the controls on each day of training. 4 Electroshock seizure threshold was raised. 5 In the open-field test, progeny of mothers receiving the larger dose were more active than controls. A dose × days interaction indicated a complex response of the chlordane-treated mice to experience in the open-field. 6 The significance of these findings is discussed.