Impairments in trace EB conditioning by knife-cut lesions to the fornix in rabbits: reversal by galantamine

Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2007 Oct;88(3):369-80. doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2007.05.005. Epub 2007 Jul 5.

Abstract

Previous work in our laboratory demonstrated that galantamine, a cholinesterase inhibitor and weak cholinergic agonist, facilitated classical trace eyeblink conditioning in healthy, young rabbits [Simon, B. B., Knuckley, B., & Powell, D. A. (2004). Galantamine facilitates acquisition of a trace-conditioned eyeblink response in healthy, young rabbits. Learning & Memory, 11(1), 116-122.]. The current study investigated the effects of galantamine (0.0 or 3.0mg/kg) in rabbits sustaining knife-cut lesions to the fimbria-fornix, a major projection pathway connecting the hippocampus to cortical and subcortical brain structures involved in the formation of long-term memories. Two experiments were conducted. Experiment one assessed the effects of knife-cut lesions to the fornix or sham surgeries on trace eyeblink (EB) conditioning. Results indicate that fornix lesions significantly retarded EB conditioning when trace parameters were employed. Experiment 2 assessed whether treatment with galantamine would reverse the deficits caused by fornix damage. Results indicate that 3.0mg/kg GAL reversed trace EB conditioning deficits in animals with fornix knife-cut lesions. These findings suggest that galantamine may provide benefit in the reversal of cognitive dysfunction following certain types of brain damage, especially damage involving hippocampal structures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Cholinergic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Conditioning, Classical / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Classical / physiology*
  • Conditioning, Eyelid / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Eyelid / physiology*
  • Female
  • Fornix, Brain / drug effects
  • Fornix, Brain / physiology*
  • Galantamine / pharmacology*
  • Hippocampus / physiology
  • Male
  • Rabbits
  • Statistics, Nonparametric

Substances

  • Cholinergic Agents
  • Galantamine