Chemical sympathectomy and two-way escape and avoidance learning in the rat.
Six experiments are reported on the effects of 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylethyl-amine (6-hydroxydopamine) on two-way escape and avoidance learning. Rats were tested on either escape or avoidance learning at 80 days of age after chemical sympathectomy at birth or 40 or 80 days of age. Neonatal and chronic sympathectomy (at 40 days), but not acute sympathectomy (at 80 days), resulted in depressed escape learning. Avoidance learning was affected by neonatal sympathectomy and partially by acute sympathectomy. The results have implications for the role of the autonomic nervous system in escape-avoidance learning.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D051381:Rats; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013233:Stellate Ganglion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D003345:Corticosterone; D009638:Norepinephrine