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Regional infusions of serotonin into the striatum and memory consolidation
Author(s) -
PradoAlcalá Roberto A.,
Ruiloba María Isabel,
Rubio Laura,
SolanaFigueroa Rafael,
Medina Cristina,
SaladoCastillo Rigoberto,
Quirarte Gina L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
synapse
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.809
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1098-2396
pISSN - 0887-4476
DOI - 10.1002/syn.10158
Subject(s) - serotonergic , neuroscience , striatum , memory consolidation , serotonin , dopaminergic , psychology , neurochemical , dopamine , cholinergic , gabaergic , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , medicine , hippocampus , receptor
Lesions, temporal inactivation, electrical stimulation and administration of drugs that antagonize synaptic activity of the striatum lead to significant deficits of memory. Also, it has been shown that interruption of dopaminergic, GABAergic, or cholinergic activity in discrete areas of this structure is sufficient to disrupt cognitive functions. In spite of the known interactions among dopamine, GABA, acetylcholine, and serotonin, there is a notable scarcity of data germane to the participation of striatal serotonin in learning and memory. It was important, therefore, to investigate the possible involvement of serotonin in cognition. In light of the differential distribution of serotonergic elements within the striatum, a prediction was made that focal injections of serotonin into distinctive regions would produce dissimilar effects on memory. Rats were trained in a one‐trial step‐through inhibitory avoidance task and a retention test was carried out 24 h later. Posttraining injections of serotonin into the dorsal and ventral aspects of the posterior region produced strong amnesia compared to similar injections into the dorsal and ventral aspects of the anterior region. The present findings support the hypothesis that striatal serotonergic activity is involved in memory functions and also provide further evidence of neurochemical heterogeneity within the striatum regarding memory consolidation. Synapse 47:169–175, 2003. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.