title: Specificity of avoidance deficits produced by 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the nigrostriatal system of the rat.
abstract: Microinjections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system (NS) of the rat impaired acquisition of a two-way avoidance response. This effect was independent of nutritional deficiencies since it was observed even when a special postoperative treatment ensured a comparable state of nutrition in control and experimental rats. It was likewise independent of locomotor disturbances. A third question remains open: Doses of 6-OHDA that impaired acquisition of an active avoidance response produced lesions that were, to a great extent, nonspecific. Therefore, behavioral effects of these doses cannot be entirely ascribed to selective destruction of the NS.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012012:Red Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006892:Hydroxydopamines