[Learning and memory abilities of exercised Japanese quails (Coturnix c. japonica) after irradiation of the head].
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With the method of a simple automatic rectangular maze the development of escape reaction was studied in albino rats aged 3 weeks to 3 months as well as memory retrieval within 24 h and then after one month. Learning of escape improves sharply between the 3rd and 4th postnatal week, and then, with the exception of week 8, remains approximately on the same level. Memory retrieval up to 24 h is not significantly influenced by age or sex, but is best immediately after learning interval of 10 min and the poorest after 24 h, except the age of 5 weeks, where it is best in 3 and 6 h after learning. One-month retention of maze escape improves during development except in animals trained at the age of 6 weeks in which the level is lower than in all other investigated groups. One-month memory retrieval in animals taught at the age of 4 weeks is influenced by the time of the first retention test with the best values in animals tested for the first time after 3 h and poorest in animals tested after 24 h after learning. Animals trained at 5 weeks had a marginally better result after the one-month retention test in females, perhaps due to the influence of sexual maturation on memory traces. This was not observed in the other age groups. Attention is drawn to the different development of learning and memory of various types of conditioned reactions stemming from the difference in their complexity.
Using computer simulation we have modeled the kinetics of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, type II, following transient pulses of cAMP. We show that under the appropriate physiological conditions, the kinase can remain activated 20 min or longer after the cessation of adenylate cyclase activation, in a process we term long-term activation. Long-term activation depends in part on the state of phosphorylation of the regulatory subunit, because phosphorylation of the regulatory subunit regulates the affinity of this subunit for the catalytic subunit. We have used our model to simulate experiments that have been performed on the kinetic and steady state activities of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and have found good agreement between the simulations and the experimental data. The effects of the activity of phosphodiesterase, adenylate cyclase, and protein phosphatase on the kinetics of cAMP-dependent protein kinase have been modeled, as have the effects of different ratios of regulatory subunit to catalytic subunit. We have also simulated the activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase in Drosophila learning and memory mutants having primary or secondary defects in the cAMP cascade. We make predictions regarding the behavior of different mutants, which are in line with the experimental data. The model corroborates the assumption that the cAMP cascade may play a role in learning and short-term memory.
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Pregnant adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. Three of these groups were irradiated with beta rays by a single intraperitoneal injection of tritiated water ((3)H(2)O) administered on the 13th day of gestation. The doses absorbed by their offspring were estimated to be 4.6, 9.2 and 27.3 cGy. The influence of radiation on the postnatal learning ability and memory behavior and on brain development of the offspring was investigated. The number of pyramidal cells (in areas CA1, CA2, CA3 and CA4) and neurons in the hippocampus of the offspring was also measured. In addition, the Ca(++) conductance of hippocampal pyramidal cells cultured in vitro was observed. The results showed that an exposure to 4.6 cGy could prolong avoidance response time significantly and decrease the number of hippocampal pyramidal cells in the CA1 area compared to controls. An exposure to 9.2 cGy significantly decreased the establishment of conditioned reflexes and the number of hippocampal pyramidal cells in the CA3 area. This exposure also induced the degeneration and malformation of hippocampal neurons cultured in vitro, in addition to decreasing the number of hippocampal neurons observed on each culture day. A dose of 27.3 cGy significantly decreased brain and body weights and the maximum electric conductance of Ca(++) in hippocampal pyramidal neurons. In general, dose-dependent effects were observed for most of the parameters assessed in the present study. Possible mechanisms are discussed.
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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), used as flame retardants, have been shown to be increasing in the environment and in human mother's milk. We have earlier reported that lower brominated PBDEs, such as tetra-, penta-, and hexa-brominated diphenyl ethers, can cause developmental neurotoxic effects in mice. Recently, this was also observed with the full-brominated PBDE, deca-brominated diphenyl ether (PBDE 209), although it was suggested that the effects were caused by a (possibly debrominated) metabolite thereof. The present study revealed that 2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6-nonabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE 206), 2,2',3,4,4',5,5',6-octabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE 203), and to a minor extent also 2,2',3,4,4',5',6'-heptabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE 183) can induce developmental neurotoxic effects. Neonatal Naval Medical Research Institute male mice were exposed on postnatal day 3 or 10 to PBDE 206, PBDE 203, or PBDE 183, given as a single oral dose of 21 mumol/kg body weight. At the adult age of 2-3 months, the mice were observed for performance in a spontaneous behavior test and the Morris water maze test. PBDE 203 and PBDE 206, when administered on neonatal day 10, caused disturbances in spontaneous behavior, leading to disrupted habituation and a hyperactive condition in adults at the age of 2 months. These behavioral changes were also seen in 2-month-old mice exposed to PBDE 203 on neonatal day 3. Furthermore, exposure to PBDE 203 on neonatal day 10 affected learning and memory functions in adult mice. The developmental neurotoxic effects were most pronounced in mice exposed to PBDE 203. These developmental neurobehavioral defects were in agreement with those we observed previously with lower brominated PBDEs and with PBDE 209. It is important to consider the fact that different PBDE congeners can have differing degrees of potency, when comparing levels of PBDEs in the environment and in mother's milk.
The present study investigated the amnestic effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist AP5 and nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor 7-NI in avoidance conditioning in goldfish. The results showed that both AP5 and 7-NI, without impairing performance processes, produced anterograde amnesia when given before training. Furthermore, 7-NI produced retrograde amnesia when given immediately following training while AP5 did not. Thus, AP5 and 7-NI affected different phases of learning and memory.
The results of neuropsychological investigations of 40 patients with severe epilepsy and behaviour disturbances treated by stereotactic methods are presented. In all cases memory disturbances were found before the operation, in 45% of the cases mental sluggishness was present. After amygdalotomy, together with a reduction of emotional tension and psychomotor agitation, the range of direct memory extended and difficulties in learning verbal material decreased. In some patients a tendency was observed also for a rise in intelligence quotient.
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OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown memory deficits among combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, high rates of comorbid conditions, including alcoholism, make it difficult to definitively associate these findings with the PTSD diagnosis. In this study the authors examined memory functioning among rape survivors without alcoholism or substance abuse but with PTSD. METHOD: Rape victims with (N = 15) and without (N = 16) PTSD were compared to age- and education-matched nontraumatized comparison subjects (N = 16) on measures of learning and memory. RESULTS: The subjects with PTSD performed significantly worse than the other groups on delayed free recall. The deficits were ameliorated by cueing and recognition testing. CONCLUSIONS: Recall deficits in noncombat PTSD patients strengthen the theory that memory deficits are associated with the PTSD diagnosis. The deficits were mild and were not attributable to comorbid depression, anxiety, or substance abuse.
Interactions of glucose and cognitive function have been reported both in the presence of elevated arterial blood glucose levels and with decreased cerebral glucose metabolism. In order to test the peripheral vs. central effects of this phenomenon, we induced irreversible hyperglycemia and depression of cerebral glucose metabolism in separate designs by means of either intraperitoneal (i.p.) or intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of streptozotocin (STZ), which is known to damage insulin-producing cells. Behavioral functions, such as locomotor activity, learning, and memory, were investigated under these different conditions. IP treatment with STZ decreased locomotor activity and increased initial step-through latencies on the passive avoidance test. No effects of elevated arterial blood glucose levels on retention of passive avoidance learning checked at 24 h and 144 h after training were observed. I.c.v. treatment of STZ increased the rate of locomotor activity and impaired retention in the passive avoidance test at 24 h, without further forgetfulness at 144 h. This finding may indicate disturbed acquisition and/or consolidation of memory, which may remain impaired but at a constant level, without further deterioration. Enhanced motor activity and impaired acquisition of passive avoidance learning without further impairment have also been reported as a characteristical behavioral pattern after disruption of the cholinergic system. It is therefore postulated that the observed behavioral abnormalities consequent on an impairment of cerebral glucose metabolism may be suggestive of cholinergic dysfunction.
In the primary auditory field AI of gerbil auditory cortex, aversive tone conditioning paradigms reshaped frequency receptive fields of single units and also changed the spatial representation of tones in fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) experiments. As another aspect of learning-induced plasticity in gerbil AI, antibodies against the immediate early gene product c-Fos identified an unusual spatial pattern of neurons in terms of a "macrocolumn." The pattern resulted from repeated short exposure of the animals to a tone in a new environment. The search for transmitters that may mediate this gene activation is carried out by microdialysis through chronically implanted probes in auditory cortex. So far, dopamine transmission was found to reflect specific aspects of auditory learning in cortex. The results suggest that spectral features of sounds as well as aspects of learned behavioral meaning of the sounds may be represented in AI.