Microinjection of arginine8-vasopressin antiserum into the dorsal hippocampus attenuates passive avoidance behavior in rats.
Antiserum to arginine8-vasopressin was microinjected bilaterally into the dentate gyrus of the dorsal hippocampus and the effect of passive avoidance behavior was studied. After the single learning trial of a passive avoidance response, immediate bilateral injection of 1 microliter antiserum (diluted to 1/50) attenuated passive avoidance responding 24 hr later. In immunocytochemical control studies with injection of undiluted antiserum into the dentate gyrus a spreading was observed towards the ventral hippocampus and the dorsal septum. Additionally, administration into the lateral ventricle of 2 microliters of 1/50 dilution of the antiserum did not affect the behavior. For an attenuation of passive avoidance behavior via intraventricular injection, 2 microliters of a 1/10 dilution of anti-AVP was required. These data suggest that endogenous vasopressin in the septo-hippocampal system might be involved in memory processes.
D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000502:physiology*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology
D001127:Arginine Vasopressin