Behavioral Phenotyping in Developmental Neurotoxicology—Simple Approaches Using Unconditioned Behaviors in Rodents

Abstract Behavior is the final output of the nervous system, and alterations in behavior reflect changes in the underlying structure and function of the brain. Behavioral testing is a critical component of developmental neurotoxicity assessment. The primary aim of this chapter is to describe simple test approaches used in behavioral assessment within developmental neurotoxicology. We focus here on rodents, particularly rats and mice, which are the most commonly used animals in behavioral teratology. Current practice typically involves the examination of toxicant-exposed and control offspring for physical growth, attainment of physical developmental landmarks, sensory function, motor development, activity, and learning. Together, these measures encompass a broad range of basic processes, most of which can either be studied using rapid and simple manual techniques or have been adapted for automated assessment.