Evidence for the substantia nigra pars compacta as an essential component of a memory system independent of the hippocampal memory system.

摘要: The aim of the present study was to test if nigrostriatal pathway is an essential component for a water maze cued task learning and it works independently hippocampal memory system. This hypothesis tested using animal model Parkinson's disease in which male Wistar rats were lesioned substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) by intranigral infusion 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), thus causing partial depletion striatal dopamine. SNc-lesioned sham-operated animals implanted bilaterally with guide cannulae above dorsal hippocampus order be after administration 0.4 microl 2% lidocaine or saline into this structure. spatial version maze, tasks previously reported hippocampal-dependent spatial/relational striatal-dependent S-R learning, respectively. Hippocampal inactivation, but not SNc lesion, impaired maze. An opposite situation observed version. No significant interaction between lesion inactivation conditions affecting scores These results suggest that part system processes memories.