Trimethylin-induced Forebrain Lesions, Cognitive Impairment and β-Adrenergic Receptor Binding

摘要: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses trimethylin-induced forebrain lesions cognitive impairment and β-adrenergic receptor binding. When given to rats, trimethyltin (TMT) causes the dose-related destruction of hippocampus related areas. The describes a study for assessing learning/memory in TMT-treated Rats by using delayed reinforcement autoshaping procedure, which incorporates features both classical operant conditioning paradigms. Male Long Evans weighing 320–400 g, were treated p.o. with TMT (3.0, 6.0 or 7.5 mg/kg) water vehicle. No overt toxicity resulted from two lower doses but high dose induced weight loss, irritability handling, convulsions. Following disappearance acute toxic signs, 18 28 days after treatment, , rats food deprived 85–90% ad lib body weights familiarized 45 mg pellets used as reinforcers. They then placed an chamber equipped retractable lever autoshaping. was inserted into on random time schedule, interval between pellet delivery next insertion varying 22 68 s. In first experiment, autoshaped 4 s delay reinforcement. effects this task observed. All groups showed evidence acquisition, increases numbers extended touches during course