Serotonergic and cholecystokinin antagonists change patterns of response in rats (Rattus norvegicus) to oral sodium monofluoroacetate

Abstract

Sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) is a toxin commonly used for the control of wild and feral pests in New Zealand⁽¹⁾. This toxin has a relatively long, variable, latent period between administration and death^(2)(3)(4) with reports ranging from 60 minutes to numerous hours for the same dosage in different animals. Potentially, symptoms experienced in this period may cause suffering and have welfare implications. A variety of symptoms have been reported, most of which are species-dependent⁽²⁾. These range from vocalisations and hyperactivity (dogs, rats), through nausea and apprehension (humans), to ataxia, weakness, seizure and death in most species examined^(2)(5)(6).