Learning and extinction of a passive avoidance response in mice with high levels of predisposition to catalepsy.
This report presents results obtained from comparative analysis of learning and the dynamics of extinction of a conditioned passive avoidance response in ASC mice, which were bred for a high level of predisposition to catalepsy, and in CBA and AKR mice. The following findings were obtained: 1) impairments to the extinction of the memory of fear represent an important symptom of depression in ASC mice; 2) extinction is delayed in CBA mice; and 3) new inhibitory learning occurs quickly in AKR mice. Prolonged retention of the fear memory in ASC mice appears to be related to increased anxiety on prolonged testing without a punishment. The deficit of inhibition of the fear reaction in ASC mice allows this strain to be regarded as a genetic model of depression.
State Research Institute of Physiology, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, 4 Timakov Street, 630117, Novosibirsk, Russia. dubrov@iph.ma.nsc.ru
N I
NI
Dubrovina
D R
DR
Zinov'ev
D V
DV
Zinov'eva
A V
AV
Kulikov
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013045:Species Specificity