Concurrent measurement of solvent vapor concentrations and effects on operant behavior using a dynamic exposure system.

A method is described for exposing mice, lever-pressing on an operant schedule for water reinforcement, to continuously-generated solvent vapors. Concurrent monitoring of chamber concentration and schedule-controlled behavior allows a correlation of the magnitude and time course for behavioral effects with changes in the levels of solvent exposure. Data are presented showing the acute effects of 1,1,1-trichloroethane over the range of 1000-8000 ppm on behavior maintained by a fixed-ratio 100 schedule of water presentation. Concentration-dependent decreases in response rates with a rapid onset and recovery were obtained.