Behavioral changes induced in developing rats by an early postnatal exposure to lindane.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the behavioral developmental pattern was altered by an early postnatal exposure to lindane. Male and female offspring of Wistar rats were daily orally administered with a nonconvulsant dose of lindane (10 mg/kg) during 7 days either the 1st or the 2nd postnatal week days. Effects on pups were evaluated with a reduced developmental neurotoxicological test battery. Body weight evolution, neuromotor reflexes (surface righting, cliff avoidance and tail hang reflex) and spontaneous motor activity were analyzed from day 1 after birth up to day 28. The body weight pattern was unaffected by treatment with lindane and no signs of overt toxicity were observed. Lindane-treated pups showed an increased positive response of the neuromotor reflexes. Furthermore, lindane produced hyperactivity, especially manifested between days 12 and 16. A peak of activity was reached at day 16 in lindane-treated group, while control animals had a maximum between days 20 and 24. These results suggest that low nonconvulsant doses of lindane may induce behavioral changes in developing rats.