Learning deficiencies in Borna disease virus-infected but clinically healthy rats.
Borna disease (BD) virus, a still unclassified neurotropic agent, causes either fatal encephalomyelitis or persistent asymptomatic infection in a variety of animal species. We monitored the neuronal functions of intracerebrally infected but healthy rats with three types of learning experiments. Spatial discrimination learning, using the y maze and the hole board, was significantly less successful in BD virus-infected (I) compared with mock-infected (M) rats. Similarly, I rats tended to show a certain emotional disturbance (reduced resting behavior and less anxiety) as evaluated by open-field and neophobia tests. Furthermore, in two aversive learning experiments (taste aversion and reaction suppression via Skinner box), it appeared that the I rats expressed a significantly diminished ability to learn pain avoidance compared with M rats. In conclusion, we found specific learning deficiencies together with subtle behavioral alterations suggesting that BD virus causes certain modulations of high integrative brain functions which are only detectable under experimental conditions.
Dittrich
W
W
Department of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, FRG.
Bode
L
L
Ludwig
H
H
Kao
M
M
Schneider
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology; D001890:Borna Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001891:Borna disease virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology; D014713:Viruses, Unclassified / Q000472:pathogenicity*