Involvement of the lateral septal area in the expression of fear conditioning to context.
Considering the evidence that the lateral septal area (LSA) modulates defensive responses, the aim of the present study is to verify if this structure is also involved in contextual fear conditioning responses. Neurotransmission in the LSA was reversibly inhibited by bilateral microinjections of cobalt chloride (CoCl(2), 1 mM) 10 min before or after conditioning or 10 min before re-exposure to the aversively conditioned chamber. Only those animals that received CoCl(2) before re-exposure showed a decrease in both cardiovascular and behavioral conditioned responses. These results suggest that the LSA participates in the expression, but not acquisition or consolidation, of contextual fear conditioning.
Reis
Daniel G
DG
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900 São Paulo, Brazil.
Scopinho
América A
AA
Guimarães
Francisco S
FS
Corrêa
Fernando M A
FM
Resstel
Leonardo B M
LB
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003035:Cobalt / Q000494:pharmacology; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004597:Electroshock / Q000009:adverse effects; D005239:Fear; D046352:Freezing Reaction, Cataleptic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020665:Septum of Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D003035:Cobalt; C018021:cobaltous chloride