Increased susceptibility to adult paraoxon exposure in mice neonatally exposed to nicotine

Low-dose exposure of neonatal mice to nicotine has earlier been shown to induce an altered behavioral response to nicotine in adulthood. Organophosphorus insecticides are known to affect the cholinergic system by inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. This study was undertaken to investigate whether neonatal exposure to nicotine makes mice more susceptible to a known cholinergic agent. Neonatal, 10-day-old, male mice were exposed to nicotine-base (33 mug/kg body weight) or saline s.c. twice daily on five consecutive days. At 5 months of age the animals were exposed to paraoxon (0.17 or 0.25 mg/kg body weight [29% and 37% inhibition of cholinesterase, respectively]) or saline sc every second day for 7 days. Before the first paraoxon injection, the animals were observed for spontaneous motor behavior. The spontaneous motor behavior test did not reveal any differences in behavior between the treatment groups. Immediately after the spontaneous behavior test, the animals received the first injection of paraoxon and were observed for acute effects of paraoxon on spontaneous motor behavior. The acute response to paraoxon in the spontaneous motor behavior test was a decreased level of activity in mice neonatally exposed to nicotine. Control animals showed no change in activity. Two months after the paraoxon treatment, the animals were again tested for spontaneous motor behavior. Animals neonatally exposed to nicotine and exposed to paraoxon as adults showed a deranged spontaneous motor behavior, including hyperactivity and lack of habituation.