Comparison of the behavioral effects of neurotoxic and systemically toxic agents: how discriminatory are behavioral tests of neurotoxicity?

The behavioral effects of carbon tetrachloride-produced impairment of liver function, insulin-produced reduction of plasma glucose levels, and the reduction of food and water intake have been evaluated. Considerable similarity was found among the behavioral effects of systemically toxic agents, three neurotoxicants (triethyltin, acrylamide, and 2,5-hexanedione), and the neuroleptic drug haloperidol. Measure of motor strength differentiated neurotoxic from non-neurotoxic compounds, while measures of motor activity were equally sensitive to neurotoxic, systemically toxic, and non-neurotoxic agents. These findings demonstrate the importance of assessing systemic toxicity before drawing conclusions about the neurotoxicity of a behaviorally active compound.