Effects of prenatal exposure to N-methylpyrrolidone on postnatal development and behavior in rats.

Pregnant rats (Mol:WIST) were exposed to 150 ppm N-methylpyrrolidone for 6 hours per day on gestation days 7-20. The dose level was selected so as not to induce maternal toxicity or decrease viability of offspring. In the preweaning period, the exposed offspring had a lower body weight and their physical development was delayed. Neurobehavioral evaluation of the male pups revealed no effects on basal functions of the central nervous system. The animals appeared normal and motor function (rotarod), activity level (open field), and performance in learning tasks with a low grade of complexity were similar in the two groups. However, in more difficult tasks such as the reversal procedure in Morris water maze and operant delayed spatial alternation (Skinner boxes), performance was impaired in exposed offspring.