Selective Lesion of Cholinergic Neurons of the Septal-Hippocampal Tract: Memory and Learning

It is hypothesized that the loss of cholinergic function in the medial septum (MS), observed early in many forms of dementia, contributes to memory losses characterized in these diseases. The studies of this dissertation examined whether the selective loss of cholinergic neurons in the MS impairs acquisition of a delayed matching-to-position (DMP) spatial memory task. The results suggest a significant contribution of MS cholinergic neurons in acquisition of the DMP task. Specifically, 192 IgG-saporin SAP lesioned rats acquired the task at a slower rate and required more days to reach criterion. The results also suggest that male rats typically adopt a consistent turning strategy early in the training process, which is independent of extra-maze cues. For animals to reach criterion, an alternative learning strategy was adopted; one dependent on extra-maze cues. Cholinergic lesion of the MS resulted in a greater reliance on a consistent turning strategy, which accounted for the slower rate of acquisition of the DMP task.</p><p> Steroid sulfatase inhibitors increase whole brain DHEAS levels, enhance ACh release in the hippocampus, and enhance memory. The present study also investigated the cognitive effects of sulfatase inhibition in SAP lesioned animals. Steroid sulfatase inhibition further impaired acquisition of the DMP task in SAP lesioned rats while having no effect on cholinergically intact animals. Since DHEAS displayed memory enhancing properties in rodents, we also investigated the effects of DHEAS administration on MS SAP lesioned animals. DHEAS treatment had no significant effect on the acquisition of the DMP task in the SAP treated or control animals.</p><p> The final study of this dissertation examined the effect of arousal on DMP performance in SAP lesion of the medial septum. Arousal, induced by the IP injection of saline, decreased the number of days SAP lesioned rats needed to reach criterion and also improved the rate of acquisition. The results suggest that a mild aversive stimulus can attenuate cognitive deficits caused by MS cholinergic lesions.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Immediate Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Pharmacology-Toxicology

Year dc:date.available

2009

Author dc:creator

• Fitz, Nicholas

Contributors dc:contributor

• David Johnson
• Paula Witt-Enderby
• Robert Gibbs
• Michael Rhodes

• cognition
• septal-hippocampal tract
• 192 IgG-Saporin
• steroid sulfatase inhibitor
• DHEAS
• aversive stimulus

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/542

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-1558