Neurobehavioral effect of triadimefon, a triazole fungicide, in male and female rats.

Triadimefon is a widely used systemic fungicide, yet there is little published information on its effects in mammals. This study describes the effects of triadimefon in male and female rats using a functional observational battery (FOB), motor activity (measured in a figure-eight maze), and operant performance (responding under a fixed-interval 3-min schedule). For the FOB, Long-Evans hooded rats were tested immediately before dosing and 0.5, 4, 24, and 48 hr after IP dosing with either vehicle, 30, 100, or 300 mg/kg triadimefon. Prominent effects of triadimefon (100 and 300 mg/kg) included increased arousal, stereotypies involving repetitive sniffing, head bobbing, and pacing, and self-mutilation. Dose-related handling-induced convulsions, changes in reflexes and sensory reactivity, hypothermia, and body weight loss were also significant findings. Doses of 30, 75 and 150 mg/kg triadimefon increased figure-eight maze activity whereas 300 mg/kg decreased activity. Habituation of activity during the session as well as the spatial distribution within the maze were also affected by triadimefon. Overall rates of responding maintained by fixed-interval milk reinforcement were increased at 30 and 56 mg/kg, and decreased at 100 and 200 mg/kg. Responding within the 3-min fixed-interval was also affected, with low rates normally occurring early in the interval markedly increased. These effects on operant performance were similar to those seen following d-amphetamine, and were attenuated by pretreatment with chlorpromazine (0.5 mg/kg). On many measures, female rats appeared to be somewhat more sensitive than males. Recovery was evident in some measures the day after dosing, but the effects of high doses (greater than or equal to 100 mg/kg) were typically prolonged (several days). Thus triadimefon produced a unique neurotoxic syndrome which is similar in many aspects to that produced by CNS stimulants.