Effects of the hepatocarcinogen, aflatoxin, on open-field behaviors in Syrian hamsters

For 35 days male Syrian hamsters were exposed to food treated with aflatoxin, copper acetate, aflatoxin plus copper acetate, or a control diet. When tested in an open-field, the copper acetate and the control groups showed normal decreases in rears, squares entered, and escape attempts across trials. The two aflatoxin-treated groups, however, did not show a decrease across trials on these measures. In fact, the aflatoxin plus copper acetate group showed significant increases in rears and escape attempts. There seems to be a lack of habituation in all animals receiving aflatoxin, and concurrent copper treatment failed to alter this response. Thus, the open-field test revealed behavioral changes while the hamsters were still in a precancerous stage.