title: The effect of medial prefrontal cortex electrical stimulation on passive avoidance memory in healthy and addict rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is a part of brain reward system involved in cognitive functions such as learning and memory. The mPFC receives strong dopaminergic innervations from ventral tegmental area (VTA) that comprises a portion of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system (MLDS), and sends glutamatergic projections to both the VTA and nucleus accumbens (NAc).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, male Wister rats weighing 250-350 g were used. The effect of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) electrical stimulation with different current intensities (25, 50,100, and 150 μA) in healthy and addicted rats on passive avoidance memory was studied here.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study showed that 25 and 150 μA had no effect on improving avoidance memory in rats. Current intensities of 50 and 100 μA differ significantly with 25 and 150 μA. The PL of mPFC contributes to memory processing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The electrical stimulations of prelimbic with 50 and 100 μA current intensities were improved avoidance memory in addicted rats while learning impairment is caused in healthy rats while the electrical stimulation with these used current intensities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Shima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehdipour
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hojjat Allah
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Alaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, Isfahan Payame Noor University, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Asghar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Pilehvariyan
keywords: Avoidance memory; electrical stimulation; medial prefrontal cortex; morphine