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LP‐BM5 infection impairs acquisition, but not performance, of active avoidance responding in C57Bl/6 mice
Author(s) -
English Justin A.,
Hemphill Karen M.,
Paul Ian A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.12.2.175
Subject(s) - avoidance learning , inoculation , psychology , biology , immunology , neuroscience
LP‐BM5 murine leukemia virus infection causes an AIDS‐like syndrome—murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome— in C57Bl/6 mice and impairs spatial learning in the Morris water maze without gross motor impairment. We used a shuttle shock‐avoidance procedure to examine the effects of LP‐BM5 infection on learning and retention of avoidance behavior. Thirty mice were inoculated with LP‐BM5; 30 received vehicle (DMEM) injections. Fifteen LP‐BM5 and 15 DMEM mice were trained in avoidance 7 wk after inoculation; retention of the avoidance response was tested 4 wk later. The remaining mice were trained 11 wk after inoculation. In animals trained 7 wk after inoculation, the groups performed similarly, with a marginally significant tendency for LP‐BM5‐infected animals to make more avoidance responses. This group difference was significant when animals were retested at 11 wk. However, LP‐BM5 animals trained 11 wk after inoculation made significantly fewer avoidance responses than controls trained at the same time. We conclude that in later stages of disease, LP‐BM5 impairs response acquisition, but not performance, in the active avoidance procedure. Results extend the use of the LP‐BM5‐infected mouse as a model of AIDS dementia complex.—English, J. A., Hemphill, K. M., Paul, I. A. LP‐BM5 infection impairs acquisition, but not performance, of active avoidance responding in C57Bl/6 mice. FASEB J. 12, 175–179 (1998)