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<li>To correlate pharmacokinetic profiles of single and multiple doses of domoic acid with associated quantitative neurohistological and behavioral effects in non-humanprimates.</li>
<li> To identify genetic factors modulating domoic acid sensitivity in Wistar rats.3) To identify neurochemical biomarkers of domoic acid exposure and damage.</li></ol>
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FY 2000 Accomplishments: Domoic acid is a potent neurotoxin formed by algal blooms that enters the humanfood chain when various types of seafood are consumed. Further dose-response data evaluating the initial location of the early-immediate gene (c-fos) response to domoic acid exposure was obtained. </p>
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This serves to better identify the initial target tissue for domoic acid neurotoxicity and will subsequently allow for more precise determination of safe levels of exposure. In turn, safety experts will have better information on which to base economic decisions such as when commercial crabbing and fishing operations must be suspended for public safety. </p>
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FY 2001 Plans: Two additional manuscripts describing the dose-related neurotoxicity of domoic acidare planned for submission in FY 2001.</p>