Brain interleukin-1 is involved in spatial memory and passive avoidance conditioning.
Within the brain, the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) mediates illness-associated neural, neuroendocrine, and behavioral responses; however, its role in normal neurobehavioral processes is not clear. To examine the role of IL-1 signaling in memory, we infused Long-Evans rats intracerebroventricularly with IL-1beta (10 ng/rat), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra, 100 microg/rat), or saline immediately following a learning task and tested memory functioning 1-8 days later. In the Morris water maze (MWM), IL-1ra caused memory impairment in the hippocampus-dependent, spatial version, whereas IL-1beta had no effect. Neither IL-1beta nor IL-1ra influenced the hippocampus-independent, nonspatial version of the MWM. In the passive avoidance response, which also depends on hippocampal functioning, IL-1ra caused memory impairment, and IL-1beta caused memory improvement. These results suggest that IL-1 signaling within the hippocampus plays a critical role in learning and memory processes.
Yirmiya
R
R
Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, 91905, Israel. razyirmiya@huji.ac.il
Winocur
G
G
Goshen
I
I
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D007375:Interleukin-1