Effects of catecholaminergic depletion of the amygdala and insular cortex on the potentiation of odor by taste aversions.
This experiment examined the effects of catecholamine depletion of the amygdala or insular cortex on the acquisition of olfactory and gustatory learning tasks. Bilateral lesions with 6-hydroxydopamine (4 micrograms/0.5 microliters) were done in either amygdala or insular cortex of Wistar male rats, with two groups receiving sham lesions. All four groups of animals were trained and tested in the potentiation of odor by taste aversion paradigm. The results showed that the amygdala-lesioned group acquired the taste, but not hte odor aversion, while the insular cortex-lesioned group acquired odor, but not taste aversion. Both sham groups showed strong taste and odor aversions. Catecholamine levels in both lesioned groups were significantly lower than those in the sham groups. These results suggest that catecholamines are necessary in the insular cortex for the acquisition of taste and in the amygdala for the acquisition of odor aversion in the potentiation of odor by taste aversion paradigm.
Fernandez-Ruiz
J
J
Departamento de Neurociencias, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F., Mexico.
Miranda
M I
MI
Bermúdez-Rattoni
F
F
Drucker-Colín
R
R
D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects*; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects*
D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D002395:Catecholamines; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D016627:Oxidopamine