title: The role of telencephalic NMDA receptors in avoidance learning in goldfish (Carassius auratus).
abstract: Studies with goldfish (Carassius auratus) have suggested that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are concentrated most densely in the telencephalon, a simple structure homologous to the limbic structure of higher vertebrates. The present study investigated the amnestic effects of microinjections of the NMDA receptor antagonist D(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (D-AP5) to the goldfish telencephalon on avoidance conditioning. Results showed that microinjections of D-AP5 before training impaired avoidance learning at doses that did not impair performance processes. High-performance liquid chromatography measurements showed that D-AP5 was detected only in the telencephalon following microinjections. Thus, D-AP5 impaired avoidance learning through its interaction with telencephalic NMDA receptors in goldfish. Furthermore, microinjections of D-AP5 to the goldfish telencephalon immediately following training did not impair memory consolidation of avoidance conditioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan 49401, USA. xux@gvsu.edu
authors.forename: Xiaojuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bazner
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freidhoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006054:Goldfish / Q000502:physiology*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate