6-OHDA induced effects upon the acquisition and performance of specific locomotor tasks in rats
Abstract
The effect of norepinephrine (NE) depletion on acquisition and performance of locomotor tasks requiring precise paw placement was tested. Running times (RT, 25 trials/day, 4 consecutive days) of water-deprived rats trained to transverse horizontal rods in an equally spaced regular rod arrangement (REG) were obtained before and after (REG/REG) intracisternal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 3 X 25 micrograms free base) infusion. No significant differences from ascorbate (0.1%) vehicle controls were seen. Additional rats were tested using the same protocol except a more difficult, irregularly spaced rod arrangement (IRR) was used. These IRR/IRR rats also revealed no significant differences. However, testing on the REG task before, and the new IRR task after infusion produced impaired performance on days 3 and 4 when 6-OHDA and vehicle treated rats were compared. These REG/IRR rats also showed a significant difference in the slope of the line reflecting the decrease in RT over the 4 day post-infusion period. Since no differences in intertrial intervals or extinction behavior were seen, the effect was not attributed to differences in arousal or motivational state. This effect could not be attributed to a simple reduction in non-specific ...Continue Reading
References
Citations
Acquisition of a runway motor learning task is impaired by a beta adrenergic antagonist in F344 rats
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Amygdala: Sensory Processes
Amygdalae, nuclei clusters located in the temporal lobe of the brain, play a role in memory, emotional responses, and decision-making. Here is the latest research on sensory processes in the amygdala.