Unilateral infusion of GABA and saline into the nucleus basalis of rats: 1. Effects on motor function and brain morphology.
Motor behavior was investigated in rats following acute and chronic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) microinfusions into the nucleus basalis. For acute treatment, the rats received GABA (100 micrograms in 1 microliter), then saline, or these solutions in the reverse order, into the nucleus basalis contralateral to their preferred turning direction in a radial maze. For chronic treatment, half the rats received saline (1 microliter/h for 4 days), and than GABA (100 micrograms/microliters/h) for the same period of time ('saline-first' group). In the other half, this sequence was reversed ('GABA-first' group). Acute microinjections of GABA decreased turning towards the non-injected side; chronic treatment enhanced this effect by reversing the preferred turning direction. Return to initial turning direction was observed after acute GABA-injection in both experimental groups, but only in the 'saline-first' group after chronic treatment. The 'GABA-first' group showed gliosis in and around the nucleus basalis area and a reduction of cortical acetyl-cholinesterase-positivity which were significantly greater than in the 'saline-first' group. This, chronic saline pretreatment is associated with diminished neurotoxicity of chronic GABA infusion and with a reversibility of the drug-induced behavioral effects.
Will
B E
BE
Laboratoire de Neurobiologie des Comportements, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France.
Toniolo
G
G
Brailowsky
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid