Effects of AETT-induced neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis on learning ability in rats.
The behavioral effects of ceroid-lipofuscin accumulation, induced by intraperitoneal administration of acetyl-ethyl-tetramethyl-tetralin (AETT) in Wistar rats for 3 months, were examined in the present studies. A significant increase in neuronal ceroidlipofuscin was demonstrated neuropathologically as well as morphometrically. Although the AETT-intoxicated rats showed neither alteration of locomotor activity nor shock sensitivity, a significant impairment of learning ability, especially an acquisition trial in passive avoidance tests, was observed. Results of the present studies indicate the possibility that a diffuse lipofuscin accumulation causes a learning impairment in rats. The results also imply the possibility of a significant role of age-related lipofuscin accumulation in the dementing processes of human especially in the elderly.
Furuhashi
A
A
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan.
Akasaki
Y
Y
Sato
M
M
Miyoshi
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D004597:Electroshock; D005453:Fluorescence; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009472:Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes