Partial unilateral inactivation of the dorsal hippocampus impairs spatial memory in the MWM.

Full Abstract

The hippocampus is one of the more widely studied structures related with spatial memory. In this study, we assessed the effect of unilateral inactivation of the dorsal hippocampus with tetrodotoxin (TTX) on the performance displayed by Wistar rats in the spatial version of the Morris water maze. In experiment 1, we injected into the dorsal hippocampus in two different groups of rats 1 microl of saline solution or 5 ng of TTX in 1 microl of saline each day immediately after the training during four consecutive days. This procedure blocked consolidation and impaired spatial memory in the TTX group. In experiment 2, a new group of subjects was trained in the Morris water maze for 8 days and was administered 1 microl of saline on day 7 (saline session) and TTX on day 8 (TTX session) into the dorsal hippocampus 40 min before the training. Only the treatment with TTX altered the retrieval of memories. These experiments showed that unilateral interventions on the dorsal hippocampus can affect consolidation as well as retrieval of well-established spatial memories.

Author information

Author/s: Cimadevilla, José M (JM); Miranda, Ruben (R); López, Laudino (L); Arias, Jorge L (JL);

Affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain. jcimadev(-atsign-)ual.es

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Brain research. Cognitive brain research (Brain Res Cogn Brain Res), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-Dec; vol 25 (issue 3) : pp 741-6

Dates: Created 2005/12/13; Completed 2006/02/15; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16216479, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.