Neural plasticity in vivo: opioid sensitivity of memory develops gradually after a septal lesion.
Neuronal plasticity can manifest itself in alterations in the sensitivity of memory to the effects of drugs. After the production of a brain lesion, the memory processing of a passive-avoidance task in mice gradually becomes sensitive to the effect of morphine, i.e., an improvement in retention performance is seen after 6 weeks, but not after 1 or 2 weeks. The results presented demonstrate that, even if they lead to no discernible changes in behaviour, plastic processes can still be detected by means of behavioural tests.
Mondadori
C
C
Pharmaceutical Research Department, CIBA-GEIGY Ltd., Basle, Switzerland.
Back
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D009294:Narcotics; D009020:Morphine