Aversive stimulus attenuates impairment of acquisition in a delayed match to position T-maze task caused by a selective lesion of septo-hippocampal cholinergic projections.
Infusion of 192 IgG-saporin (SAP) into the medial septum (MS) of rats selectively destroys cholinergic neurons projecting to the hippocampus and impairs acquisition of a delayed matching to position (DMP) T-maze task. The present study evaluated whether introduction of a mild aversive stimulus 30 min prior to training would attenuate the deficit in DMP acquisition caused by the SAP lesions. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received medial septal infusions of either artificial cerebrospinal fluid or SAP (0.22 microg in 1.0 microl). Fourteen days later, all animals were trained to perform the DMP task. Half of the SAP-treated animals and controls received an intraperitoneal injection of saline each day, 30 min prior to training. Results show that intraperitoneal saline attenuated the impairment in DMP acquisition in SAP lesioned rats. These results suggest that a mild aversive stimulus can attenuate cognitive deficits caused by medial septal cholinergic lesions.
Fitz
Nicholas F
NF
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA.
Gibbs
Robert B
RB
Johnson
David A
DA
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000633:toxicity; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D054789:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1; D000076985:Saporins; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013028:Space Perception; D013997:Time Factors
C085696:192 IgG-saporin; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000922:Immunotoxins; D054789:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases; D000076985:Saporins