Effects of parafascicular excitotoxic lesions on two-way active avoidance and odor-discrimination

Quiroz‐Padilla, María Fernanda; Guillazo-Blanch, Gemma; Vale-Martínez, Anna; Torras-Garcia, Meritxell; Martí-Nicolovius, Margarita

doi:10.1016/j.nlm.2007.06.002

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Pf inactivation did not affect place acquisition, but impaired place reversal learning. The reversal learning deficit observed following Pf inactivation is consistent with results indicating that posterior intralaminar thalamic lesions, that include the Pf, do not impair acquisition of various discrimination tests (Nyakas et al, 1985; Quiroz-Padilla et al, 2007; Savage et al, 1997), but do impair reversal learning (Nyakas et al, 1985; Thompson et al, 1981). In past experiments, lesions extended beyond the Pf and damaged fibers of passage.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

The Parafascicular Thalamic Nucleus Concomitantly Influences Behavioral Flexibility and Dorsomedial Striatal Acetylcholine Output in Rats

Brown¹,

Baker²,

Ragozzino³

2010

J. Neurosci.

124

134

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Recent evidence suggests that a circuit involving the centromedian-parafascicular (Pf) thalamus and basal ganglia is critical for a shift away from biased actions. In particular, excitatory input from the Pf onto striatal cholinergic neurons may facilitate behavioral flexibility. Accumulating evidence indicates that an endogenous increase in dorsomedial striatal acetylcholine (ACh) output enhances behavioral flexibility. The present experiments investigated whether the rat (Rattus norvegicus) Pf supports flexibility during reversal learning, in part, by modifying dorsomedial striatal ACh output. This was determined first by examining the effects of Pf inactivation, through infusion of the GABA agonists baclofen and muscimol, on place acquisition and reversal learning. Additional experiments examined Pf inactivation on dorsomedial striatal ACh output during reversal learning and a resting condition. Behavioral testing was performed in a cross-maze. In vivo microdialysis combined with HPLC/electrochemical detection was used to sample ACh from the dorsomedial striatum. Pf inactivation selectively impaired reversal learning in a dose-dependent manner. A subsequent study showed that an increase in dorsomedial striatal ACh efflux (ϳ30% above basal levels) during reversal learning was blocked by Pf inactivation, which concomitantly impaired reversal learning. In the resting condition, a dose of baclofen and muscimol that blocked a behaviorally induced increase in dorsomedial striatal ACh output did not reduce basal ACh efflux. Together, the present findings indicate that the Pf is an intralaminar thalamic nucleus critical for behavioral flexibility, in part, by directly affecting striatal ACh output under conditions that require a shift in choice patterns.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

The Parafascicular Thalamic Nucleus Concomitantly Influences Behavioral Flexibility and Dorsomedial Striatal Acetylcholine Output in Rats

Brown¹,

Baker²,

Ragozzino³

2010

J. Neurosci.

124

134

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“…The training apparatus was a 60×60×40 cm square box containing three sponges with a 3-cm diameter hole cut into the centre, placed in glass slide-holders of the same size [47]. The food reinforcement used was a crispy chocolate rice breakfast cereal (Kellogg’s, Spain) that was placed at the bottom of the opening in the sponge.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Subjects’ behavior during the social interaction (acquisition) and testing was recorded and the number of times each observer sniffed the muzzle, body or anogenital region of the demonstrator was scored. A sniff was defined as close orientation (<2 cm) of the observer’s muzzle toward the demonstrator [47]. During the first 20 min of testing, the number of times the observer was on top of the jar with both forepaws was also scored (Jar Climbs).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

D-cycloserine in Prelimbic Cortex Reverses Scopolamine-Induced Deficits in Olfactory Memory in Rats

et al. 2013

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A significant interaction between N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and muscarinic receptors has been suggested in the modulation of learning and memory processes. The present study further investigates this issue and explores whether d-cycloserine (DCS), a partial agonist at the glycine binding site of the NMDA receptors that has been regarded as a cognitive enhancer, would reverse scopolamine (SCOP)-induced amnesia in two olfactory learning tasks when administered into the prelimbic cortex (PLC). Thus, in experiment 1, DCS (10 µg/site) was infused prior to acquisition of odor discrimination (ODT) and social transmission of food preference (STFP), which have been previously characterized as paradigms sensitive to PLC muscarinic blockade. Immediately after learning such tasks, SCOP was injected (20 µg/site) and the effects of both drugs (alone and combined) were tested in 24-h retention tests. To assess whether DCS effects may depend on the difficulty of the task, in the STFP the rats expressed their food preference either in a standard two-choice test (experiment 1) or a more challenging three-choice test (experiment 2). The results showed that bilateral intra-PLC infusions of SCOP markedly disrupted the ODT and STFP memory tests. Additionally, infusions of DCS alone into the PLC enhanced ODT but not STFP retention. However, the DCS treatment reversed SCOP-induced memory deficits in both tasks, and this effect seemed more apparent in ODT and 3-choice STFP. Such results support the interaction between the glutamatergic and the cholinergic systems in the PLC in such a way that positive modulation of the NMDA receptor/channel, through activation of the glycine binding site, may compensate dysfunction of muscarinic neurotransmission involved in stimulus-reward and relational learning tasks.

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“…The training apparatus and behavioral procedures are explained elsewhere (Quiroz-Padilla et al 2007). The training box contained three sponges with a 3-cm diameter hole cut into the center, placed in glass slide holders of the same size.…”

Section: Apparatusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Training was carried out in a single five-trial session, according to procedures previously described (Quiroz-Padilla et al 2007). The trials were grouped into two blocks: Acq123 (when learning was in progress) and Acq45 (when learning was more stable and reached an asymptotic level) (Sara et al 1999).…”

Section: Acquisition Sessionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential effects of muscarinic receptor blockade in prelimbic cortex on acquisition and memory formation of an odor-reward task

Carballo-Márquez¹,

Vale-Martínez²,

Guillazo-Blanch³

et al. 2007

Learn. Mem.

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The present experiments determined the consequences of blocking muscarinic cholinergic receptors of the prelimbic (PL) cortex in the acquisition and retention of an odor-reward associative task. Rats underwent a training test (five trials) and a 24-h retention test (two retention trials and two relearning trials). In the first experiment, rats were bilaterally infused with scopolamine (20 or 5 µg/site) prior to training. Although scopolamine rats showed acquisition equivalent to PBS-injected controls, they exhibited weakened performance in the 24-h retention test measured by number of errors. In the second experiment, rats were injected with scopolamine (20 µg/site) immediately or 1 h after training and tested 24 h later. Scopolamine rats injected immediately showed severe amnesia detected in two performance measures (errors and latencies), demonstrating deficits in retention and relearning, whereas those injected 1 h later showed good 24-h test performance, similar to controls. These results suggest that muscarinic transmission in the PL cortex is essential for early memory formation, but not for acquisition, of a rapidly learned odor discrimination task. Findings corroborate the role of acetylcholine in consolidation processes and the participation of muscarinic receptors in olfactory associative tasks.

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Effects of parafascicular excitotoxic lesions on two-way active avoidance and odor-discrimination

Cited by 14 publications

References 52 publications

The Parafascicular Thalamic Nucleus Concomitantly Influences Behavioral Flexibility and Dorsomedial Striatal Acetylcholine Output in Rats

The Parafascicular Thalamic Nucleus Concomitantly Influences Behavioral Flexibility and Dorsomedial Striatal Acetylcholine Output in Rats

D-cycloserine in Prelimbic Cortex Reverses Scopolamine-Induced Deficits in Olfactory Memory in Rats

Differential effects of muscarinic receptor blockade in prelimbic cortex on acquisition and memory formation of an odor-reward task

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