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The effects of intrahippocampal BDNF and NGF on spatial learning in aged Long Evans rats.
- Source :
-
Molecular and chemical neuropathology [Mol Chem Neuropathol] 1996 Oct-Dec; Vol. 29 (2-3), pp. 211-26. - Publication Year :
- 1996
-
Abstract
- Spatial learning rate was compared in cognitively impaired aged rats infused with either brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or nerve growth factor (NGF). BDNF or NGF was infused into the dorsal hippocampus/third ventricle while animals were being trained on the Morris water maze. Training continued until all rats met a spatial learning criterion. Seven weeks later, they were tested for retention of the task, and sacrificed for assessment of hippocampal high-affinity choline uptake (HACU) or hypothalamic biogenic amine levels. NGF, but not BDNF, improved spatial learning rate in aged rats and increased hippocampal choline uptake weeks after withdrawal of NGF. Although BDNF did not improve spatial learning, it did induce a partial, long-term normalization of the elevated hypothalamic 5-HT levels observed in our aged rats. These data suggest that (1) intrahippocampal/intraventricular infusion of NGF can improve the learning rate of aged, spatial learning-impaired rats, and that this improvement in acquisition could be associated with increased hippocampal cholinergic activity, and (2) that the BDNF-induced normalization of hypothalamic 5-HT levels in aged rats was not sufficient to improve learning rate in aged, spatial learning-impaired rats.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor administration & dosage
Cerebral Ventricles drug effects
Cerebral Ventricles growth & development
Choline metabolism
Hippocampus drug effects
Hippocampus growth & development
Infusions, Parenteral
Male
Maze Learning drug effects
Nerve Growth Factors administration & dosage
Rats
Serotonin metabolism
Space Perception
Aging psychology
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor pharmacology
Cerebral Ventricles physiology
Hippocampus physiology
Maze Learning physiology
Nerve Growth Factors pharmacology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1044-7393
- Volume :
- 29
- Issue :
- 2-3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Molecular and chemical neuropathology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 8971697
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02815003