Effect of minor tranquillisers on hippocampal theta rhythm mimicked by depletion of forebrain noradrenaline

A comparison of the acute effects of a tricyclic and a MAOI antidepressant on septal driving of hippocampal rhythmical slow activity

In free-moving male rats, the function relating frequency to the threshold current required to drive hippocampal rhythmical slow activity (RSA) with septal stimulation has a minimum at 130 ms. Both classical anxiolytics (e.g. benzodiazepines) and the novel anxiolytic buspirone show similar effects on septal driving of RSA. The tricyclic antidepressant imipramine may be as effective as anxiolytic drugs in treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. The antidepressant monoamine oxidase inhibitor phenelzine has also been reported to be effective in treating anxiety, but this may reflect an action on "atypical depression" rather than "anxiety". The present study therefore compared the effects of acute administration of imipramine and phenelzine on septal driving of RSA to determine whether either would mimic anxiolytics in this test. Rats were chronically implanted with septal stimulating electrodes and subicular recording electrodes. Three groups of rats received IP injection of either imipramine (5.9-13.3 mg/kg or 13.3-30 mg/kg) or phenelzine (0.2-5.4 mg/kg). The effects produced by imipramine were very similar to the effects produced by anxiolytic drugs. In contrast, the effects produced by phenelzine were essentially opposite to those of both anxiolytic drugs and imipramine. The present experiment suggests that imipramine may act as a true anxiolytic, in addition to its conventional antidepressant properties. In contrast, phenelzine may be effective in cases where the etiology is essentially that of depression even when the symptomatology appears to be that of anxiety.

Neurochemically dissimilar anxiolytic drugs have common effects on hippocampal rhythmic slow activity

Previous experiments have shown that anxiolytic drugs reduce the frequency of hippocampal rhythmic slow activity, induced by high frequency stimulation of the reticular formation and flatten the function relating threshold septal stimulation to the frequency of driven rhythmic slow activity. All of the drugs involved are known to augment GABAergic transmission. The present experiments investigated the effects of the novel anxiolytic compound buspirone which, unlike conventional anxiolytics, does not interact with GABA, yet is a clinically effective anxiolytic. Buspirone (0.156-40 mg/kg, i.p.) was found to reduce the frequency of reticular-elicited rhythmic slow activity, in a similar manner to chlordiazepoxide (0.019-20 mg/kg, i.p.). Buspirone did not change the linearity of the voltage-frequency function. Buspirone (10 mg/kg, i.p.) also altered the threshold for septal driving of rhythmic slow activity, in a similar manner to classical anxiolytics. The combination of chlordiazepoxide (5 mg/kg, i.p.) with corticosterone (0.2 mg, s.c.) removed the minor differences between buspirone and chlordiazepoxide in both the septal and reticular tests. These results show that buspirone altered the control of rhythmic slow activity in the hippocampus, in a manner which appeared functionally equivalent to other anxiolytics but which depends on mechanisms which are likely to be neurally and pharmacologically distinct from those of other anxiolytic drugs.

Na+/Na+ exchange and Na+/H+ antiport in rabbit erythrocytes: two distinct transport systems

Rabbit erythrocytes are well known for possessing highly active Na+/Na- and Na+/H+ countertransport systems. Since these two transport systems share many similar properties, the possibility exists that they represent different transport modes of a single transport molecule. Therefore, we evaluated this hypothesis by measuring Na+ transport through these exchangers in acid-loaded cells. In addition, selective inhibitors of these transport systems such as ethylisopropyl-amiloride (EIPA) and N-ethymaleimide (NEM) were used. Na+/Na+ exchange activity, determined as the Na+o-dependent 22Na efflux or Na+i-induced 22Na entry was completely abolished by NEM. This inhibitor, however, did not affect the H+i-induced Na+ entry sensitive to amiloride (Na+/H+ exchange activity). Similarly, EIPA, a strong inhibitor of the Na+/H+ exchanger, did not inhibit Na+/Na- countertransport, suggesting the independent nature of both transport systems. The possibility that the NEM-sensitive Na+/Na+ exchanger could be involved in Na+/H+ countertransport was suggested by studies in which the net Na+ transport sensitive to NEM was determined. As expected, net Na+ transport through this transport system was zero at different [Na+]i/[Na+]o ratios when intracellular pH was 7.2. However, at pHi = 6.1, net Na+ influx occurred when [Na+]i was lower than 39 mM. Valinomycin, which at low [K+]o clamps the membrane potential close to the K+ equilibrium potential, did not affect the net NEM-sensitive Na+ entry but markedly stimulated the EIPA- and NEM-resistant Na+ uptake. This suggest that the net Na+ entry through the NEM-sensitive pathway at low pHi, is mediated by electroneutral process possibly involving Na+/H+ exchange. In contrast, the EIPA-sensitive Na+/H+ exchanger is not involved in Na+/Na+ countertransport, because Na+ transport through this mechanism is not affected by an increase in cell Na+ from 0.4 to 39 mM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Intra-hippocampal buspirone in animal models of anxiety

The effect of intra-hippocampal injections of the serotonergic 5-HT1A receptor agonist, buspirone, on rat exploratory activity was evaluated in the 'open field' and 'elevated plus maze' tests. The dose of 2.5 micrograms, but not of 1 microgram, of buspirone administered to the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus increased the time spent on exploration of open arms in the elevated plus maze, as well as it increased the number of central entries in the open field. The results indicate an anti-emotional influence of local stimulation of 5-HT1A receptors by buspirone.

Noradrenergic mechanisms in mediation of stress-induced hyperalgesia in rats

Exposure to a mild stressor (15 min of vibration) produced analgesia in some rats and hyperalgesia in other rats from the same batch treated in the same way. Rats which responded with decreased tail-flick latencies (TFL) showed signs of hyperemotionality during the stress procedure. Stress-induced hyperalgesia was abolished by the administration of diazepam (2.5 mg/kg i.p.) and clonidine (25 micrograms/kg i.p.). It is suggested that the reversal of hyperalgesia was due to the anxiolytic properties of the drugs. Yohimbine, an alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist (5 mg/kg i.p.), antagonized the effect of clonidine. The influence of clonidine on stress-induced hyperalgesia may be mediated by alpha 2-adrenoceptors.

Presynaptic effects of glucocorticoids on dopaminergic and cholinergic synaptosomes. Implications for rapid endocrine-neural interactions in stress

Synaptosomal preparations from rat hippocampus were incubated with methylprednisolone or adrenocorticotropin. High affinity choline uptake was not affected by either hormones. Methylprednisolone however enhanced newly synthesized acetylcholine release in the presence of high potassium or acetylcholine concentrations, while adrenocorticotropin had no effect. Dopamine uptake was inhibited when synaptosomes from septum or striatum were incubated with methylprednisolone. We conclude: a) high glucocorticoid concentrations and not adrenocorticotropin can directly enhance acetylcholine release but only from stimulated cholinergic synaptosomes, and b) high glucocorticoids can reduce dopamine uptake by dopaminergic synaptosomes. The results imply that increased glucocorticoid levels during stress or disease, can directly modulate the neuronal activity of specific cholinergic and dopaminergic systems in the brain.

Effects of lesions to the dorsal noradrenergic bundle on counterconditioning of punished barpressing

The possible contribution of the dorsal noradrenergic bundle (DB) to the development of a simple form of counterconditioning (an associative mechanism leading to behavioural tolerance for stress) was assessed by comparison of the performance of animals with 6-hydroxydopamine-induced lesions of the DB to that of sham-operated (SH) animals. Animals engaging in barpressing for food reward on a random-interval (RI) 64 sec schedule were presented with a stimulus signalling the concurrent operation of an RI-64 sec schedule of response-contingent shock. In the control condition (punishment), shock and reward never occurred as a result of the same barpress. In the experimental condition (counterconditioning), the frequency of shock and reward were the same as for the punishment condition but the two events always occurred in succession, with food following shock, as a consequence of the same barpress. DB lesions had no effect on the acquisition of rewarded barpressing or on the initial acquisition of the discrimination between the shock-free and shock-containing (signalled) components of the schedule. However, once performance on the discrimination had reached asymptote, DB animals in the punishment control group showed significantly less suppression to the signal than SH animals. The counterconditioning schedule used was effective, leading to significantly reduced response suppression in the SH animals in comparison to the SH group subjected to punishment. The pattern of findings in the DB groups was consistent with a blockade by the lesion of the development of counterconditioning. These results suggest, therefore, that the DB is involved in at least one associative mechanism leading to tolerance for stress.

The stress-induced response of the septo-hippocampal cholinergic system. A vectorial outcome of psychoneuroendocrinological interactions

Considerable data have emerged which strongly indicate that the septohippocampal cholinergic system is involved in the adaptive response to stress. Neurotransmitter regulatory mechanisms in cholinergic synaptic terminals of this part of the limbic system undergo adaptive changes in response to stress and recover slowly after stress. The initial stress-induced response is characterized by activation of hippocampal cholinergic terminals within minutes, as indicated by a rapid and transient elevation in high affinity choline uptake and increased newly synthesized acetylcholine release. The response of this cholinergic system to stress is influenced by both neuronal and hormonal stimuli. Among the several neuronal systems converging in the septum, terminals of the dopaminergic mesolimbic system have been found to be selectively involved in the early response to stress. Pharmacological interference with dopaminergic neurotransmission, with agonist and antagonist treatments, revealed that changes in the tonic inhibitory influence of septal dopaminergic terminals can modulate the response of hippocampal cholinergic terminals to stress. A similar activation of hippocampal cholinergic terminals as after short-term stress was observed after treatments with a large dose of either adrenocorticotropic hormone or corticosterone. Furthermore, glucocorticoids and not adrenocorticotropic hormone can directly enhance acetylcholine release, but only from excited terminals. This indicates that stress-induced activation of the septo-hippocampal system may occur secondary to, but not directly by, increased levels of pituitary-adrenocortical hormones. Yet, it is possible that under stressful conditions the increased glucocorticoid levels may modulate the activity of the stimulated hippocampal cholinergic terminals. Together the findings support the notion that the stress-induced response of the septo-hippocampal cholinergic system represents an integrated output of converging neuronal and hormonal stimuli which convey signals of stress to this limbic brain region.

Dopaminergic modulation of the septo-hippocampal cholinergic system activity under stress

The effects of the dopaminergic agonist apomorphine or the antagonist sulpiride on high affinity choline uptake and newly synthesized acetylcholine release by hippocampal synaptosomal preparations, were examined in rats subjected to immobilization stress. Increased dopamine uptake by septal synaptosomal preparations was taken as evidence for increased mesoseptal dopaminergic activity in response to stress. While apomorphine treatment failed to alter choline uptake or acetylcholine release in unhandled rats, it did however prevent the stress-induced increase in these cholinergic parameters. In contrast, after treatment with sulpiride both choline uptake and acetylcholine release were increased in unhandled rats, as they were after acute stress. Acute stress of sulpiride treated rats however resulted in changes similar to those produced by administration of either sulpiride or stress separately. We conclude that the mesoseptal dopaminergic system plays an important role in modulating the activity of the septo-hippocampal cholinergic system under stress.

Reticular elicitation of hippocampal slow waves: common effects of some anxiolytic drugs

Anxiolytic drugs share many of the common behavioural effects of septal and hippocampal lesions in animals. Gray attributes this to changes which the anxiolytics produce in septal generation of hippocampal rhythmical slow activity. However, lesions of the dorsal ascending noradrenergic bundle reproduce this electrophysiological effect of the anxiolytics while only reproducing part of the behavioural profile of the anxiolytics. The present paper reports what appears to be a second common effect of anxiolytic drugs on the generation of hippocampal slow waves which could underlie their behavioural effects. Freely moving rats, previously implanted with electrodes, received high frequency electrical stimulation of the midbrain reticular formation to elicit hippocampal rhythmic slow activity. The frequency of the slow waves produced increased linearly with increasing stimulation intensity as has been reported previously. A barbiturate (amylobarbitone, 15 mg/kg, i.p.) and three benzodiazepines (chlordiazepoxide, 5 mg/kg; diazepam, 5 mg/kg; alprazolam, 1 mg/kg) all decreased the slope of the voltage-frequency function and decreased overall frequency of slow waves produced. Two antipsychotic drugs (haloperidol, 0.2 mg/kg; chlorpromazine, 2 mg/kg) produced similar behavioural sedation to the anxiolytics but did not decrease either the slope of the voltage-frequency function nor the overall frequency of slow waves. The results show that these barbiturates and benzodiazepines produce a common reduction in the frequency of hippocampal rhythmical slow activity. Given the importance attached to slow waves in current theories of hippocampal function, it is possible that this electrophysiological effect could have some relation to the behavioural effects of these anxiolytic drugs. If the effect can be shown to generalize to other classes of anxiolytic drug it could reflect changes in the substrate for the common effects of anxiolytic drugs on behaviour.

Septal driving of hippocampal theta rhythm: role of gamma-aminobutyrate-benzodiazepine receptor complex in mediating effects of anxiolytics

In free-moving male rats, when the hippocampal theta rhythm is artificially driven by stimulation in the septum at frequencies between 5 and 10 Hz, the function relating frequency to the threshold current required to drive the theta rhythm has a minimum at 7.7 Hz. This minimum is eliminated by anxiolytic drugs. Dose-response curves for this effect are reported for chlordiazepoxide, diazepam and meprobamate. The effect of meprobamate was reversed by two gamma-aminobutyrateA antagonists, picrotoxin and bicuculline, which have previously been shown to be without effects of their own. The gamma-aminobutyrateB agonist, baclofen, also without effect on its own, blocked the elimination of the 7.7-Hz minimum caused by the gamma-aminobutyrateA agonist, muscimol. The beta-carboline, ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate, had mixed agonist/antagonist properties, blocking the effects of chlordiazepoxide, diazepam and muscimol (though not sodium amylobarbitone) but itself acting like a benzodiazepine. Coupled with earlier data, these findings support a role for gamma-aminobutyrate receptors in mediating the effects of anxiolytic drugs.

Selective attention and the brain: a hypothesis concerning the hippocampal--ventral striatal axis, the mediation of selective attention, and the pathogenesis of attentional disorders

The mechanisms mediating selective attention are not currently known. Dysfunctional selective attention is a common and prominent finding in a variety of medical and psychiatric conditions. A hypothesis is developed that efferents from the hippocampal formation are the final common pathway of processes which determine the noteworthiness of both exteroceptive and interoceptive stimuli, and that dysfunction of these efferents is a common pathway for a variety of anatomical, electrophysiological, and neurochemical lesions. This hypothesis suggests that clinical syndromes of disordered attention may be caused by various lesions of efferent connections from hippocampal formation to nucleus accumbens. The hypothesis further addresses the possibility that the threshold of hippocampus to various classes of stimuli may change on a diurnal and phasic basis. Experimental evidence that bears on the hypothesis is reviewed and experimental implications of the hypothesis are explored.

Dynamics of cholinergic synaptic mechanisms in rat hippocampus after stress

Changes in high affinity [3H]choline uptake, newly synthesized [3H]acetylcholine release and [3H]quinuclidinylbenzilate (QNB) binding were characterized in crude synaptosomal preparations from rat hippocampus immediately after different intervals of immobilization stress and at different times following chronic intermittent stress (2h once daily for 5 days). Choline uptake was increased to 125% of unhandled controls after 10 min of stress, after 2 h it returned to control levels and after chronic stress uptake was reduced to 75% of control. Acetylcholine release was enhanced after all stress intervals. Maximal muscarinic (QNB) binding capacity (Bmax) was increased to 135% of control only after chronic stress, with no change in Kd values. Following chronic stress the changes observed in cholinergic synaptic mechanisms all persist for up to 2 days. Recovery occurred only by the 7th post-stress day. We conclude: presynaptic hippocampal cholinergic terminals are rapidly activated by stressful stimuli and this is expressed by an increase in choline uptake and newly synthesized acetylcholine release; after prolonged periods of stress adaptive changes in the cholinergic terminals are expressed by a reduction in choline uptake and an elevation in the number of muscarinic binding sites; and the chronic stress-induced changes are slow to recover. The results demonstrate that the septo-hippocampal cholinergic system is an integral part of the adaptive response to stress.

The effects of compounds related to gamma-aminobutyrate and benzodiazepine receptors on behavioural responses to anxiogenic stimuli in the rat: punished barpressing

Rats were trained to press a bar for sucrose reward on a random-interval (RI) schedule and footshock punishment was then introduced for 3-min intrusion periods (signalled by a tone) on an independent RI schedule. Shock intensity was individually adjusted to produce stable intermediate levels of response suppression during the tone for each animal. Groups of animals were then allocated to a number of separate experiments in which they were systemically injected with anxiolytics (chlordiazepoxide HCl or sodium amylobarbitone), GABA antagonists (picrotoxin or bicuculline), the GABA (A) agonist muscimol, the GABA(B) agonist baclofen, an antagonist (RO 15-1788) at the benzodiazepine receptor and, an inverse agonist (FG 7142) at this receptor. The results showed that the alleviation of punishment-induced suppression of barpressing produced by chlordiazepoxide was blocked or partially blocked by RO 15-1788, picrotoxin and bicuculline but not by FG 7142; that picrotoxin (but not FG 7142) increased the suppression of responding by punishment; that neither muscimol nor baclofen affected responding on their own, but their combination weakly but reliably released punished responding from suppression; and that the anti-punishment effect of amylobarbitone was unaffected by either picrotoxin or bicuculline, though the barbiturate reversed the punishment-enhancing effect of picrotoxin. These results are discussed in the light of the hypothesis that anxiolytic behavioural effects are due to increased GABAergic inhibition.

Destruction of the locus coeruleus or the dorsal NE bundle does not alter the release of punished responding by ethanol and chlordiazepoxide

The hypothetical involvement of central noradrenergic projections in the manifestation of "anxiety" and the "anti-anxiety" effects of alcohol and benzodiazepines was tested in an operant conflict situation by examining the effects of destruction of this noradrenergic system on response rates. Rats were trained on a Geller-Seifter conflict test [9] modified for incremental shock [21], in which two food-reinforced lever press components were separated by a time-out. Responses during the "food-alone" component (RI) were reinforced on a random interval schedule-30 sec; responses during the "time-out" component were never reinforced; and responses during the conflict component (CONFLICT) were continuously reinforced with both food and shock. This shock strength increased incrementally with each successive shock during the conflict period. Each session consisted of two cycles of a 5 min RI period, a two min time out, and a two min CONFLICT period presented in succession. Both ethanol (0.5 to 1.0 g/kg) and chlordiazepoxide (5 and 10 mg/kg) produced a significant increase in punished responding during the CONFLICT component. Ethanol, but not chlordiazepoxide (CDP) also significantly decreased responding during the RI component. Virtual total destruction of the dorsal noradrenergic projection with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), or destruction of the locus coeruleus itself, failed to significantly alter baseline responding or the release of punished responding to ethanol or CDP. These results do not support the hypothesis that the locus coeruleus projections have an essential role in "anxiety" or in the "anxiety-reducing" properties of ethanol or the benzodiazepines.

Effect of DSP-4, pCPA, and haloperidol on hippocampal electrical activity and behavior in rabbits

An experimental model, including novel and fearful stimuli, has been used to study the effect of noradrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine depletion on hippocampal electrical activity and behavior in freely moving rabbits. DSP-4 (N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2- bromobenzylamine hydrochloride, 40 mg/kg ip), a selective hippocampal noradrenaline depletor, decreased the overall exploratory activity and significantly increased RSA (rhythmic slow activity) percentage. The high frequencies of the hippocampal RSA were significantly reduced. When this noradrenaline depletion was coupled with a serotonin depression by p-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA), the above described effect was potentiated. In particular, the frequency distribution of RSA was characterized by a further reduction of the high values with a concomitant increase of the low frequency band. Moreover, a more evident decrease of the exploratory activity and a similar increase of RSA percentage was observed. These results show that the hippocampal electrical activity is modulated by noradrenaline and serotonin by an inhibitory effect on RSA occurrence and a frequency selection. The block of dopamine receptors by chronic haloperidol administration (5 mg/kg ip/day) did not seem to exert any effect on RSA parameters. Results are discussed in the light of attentional and emotional theories.

Septal driving of the hippocampal theta rhythm produces a long-term, proactive and non-associative increase in resistance to extinction

Previous experiments employing electrical or pharmacological induction, or instrumental reinforcement, of hippocampal theta rhythm in rats have reported subsequent performance changes in a number of learning situations. In all these studies theta induction took place either concurrent with or following the behaviour under investigation. In the present two experiments, a treatment phase of electrically-induced hippocampal theta (by septal stimulation at 7·7 Hz) preceded acquisition of a discrete trial, barpress response on a fixed ratio 5 reinforcement schedule. In one of three treatment conditions animals received electrical stimulation (1) on its own, or (2) in a classical conditioning relationship with food delivery as unconditioned stimulus, or (3) temporally uncorrelated with food delivery; controls were implanted with electrodes but not stimulated. After 15 days’ acquisition of barpressing, all animals were extinguished over the subsequent 12 days. Results indicated that theta-driving stimulation, independent of any association with food, resulted in increased resistance to extinction of barpressing. In addition, conditions (1) and (3) enhanced the speed of response during early acquisition. These findings cast doubt on a “memory consolidation” hypothesis of hippocampal theta function and demonstrate a non-associative, long-lasting, proactive effect of theta induction on behaviour.

Lesions of the dorsal noradrenergic bundle and rewarded running: the role of pretraining

Local injection of 6-hydroxydopamine was used to selectively destroy the dorsal ascending noradrenergic bundle (DB), producing 75% loss of hippocampal noradrenaline. Lesioned and control rats were trained to run in a straight alley for food reward with or without pretraining (handling and habituation to the apparatus). Lesioned rats ran more slowly than controls only if they had not been pretrained. This result may explain previous discrepancies in the literature; it is discussed in relation to existing hypotheses of DB function.

Acquisition and extinction of continuously and partially reinforced running in rats with lesions of the dorsal noradrenergic bundle

Local injection of 6-hydroxydopamine was used to selectively destroy the dorsal ascending noradrenergic bundle (DB) in rats. Two lesion procedures were used, differing in the extent of depletion of forebrain noradrenaline they produced (greater than 90% or 77%). In Experiments 1-3 the rats were run in a straight alley for food reward on continuous (CR) or partial (PR) reinforcement schedules. The smaller lesion reduced and the larger lesion eliminated the partial reinforcement acquisition effect (i.e. the faster start and run speeds produced by PR during training) and the partial reinforcement extinction effect (PREE, i.e. the greater resistance to extinction produced by PR training); these changes were due to altered performance only in the PR condition. Abolition of the PREE by the larger DB lesion occurred with 50 acquisition trials, but with 100 trials the lesion had no effect. In Experiment 4 rats were run in a double runway with food reward on CR in the second goal box, and on CR, PR or without reinforcement in the first. The larger lesion again eliminated the PREE in the first runway, but did not block the frustration effect in the second runway (i.e. the faster speeds observed in the PR condition after non-reward than after reward in the first goal box). These results are consistent with the hypothesis that DB lesions alter behavioural responses to signals of non-reward, but not to non-reward itself. They cannot be predicted from two other hypotheses: that the DB mediates responses to reward or that it subserves selective attention. Since septal and hippocampal, but not amygdalar, lesions have been reported to produced similar behavioural changes, it is proposed that the critical DB projection for the effects observed in these experiments is to the septo-hippocampal system.

Behavior during hippocampal microinfusions. IV. Transmitter interactions

The interaction between noradrenergic, cholinergic, and GABAergic receptor stimulation in the dentate gyrus of the rat was investigated at the behavioral level. Awake, unrestrained rats in a holeboard/activity apparatus received continuous 40-min infusions into the dentate hilus of combined solutions of norepinephrine, the cholinergic agonist carbachol, and the GABA antagonist picrotoxin. Infusions into the dentate gyrus of either carbachol or picrotoxin have been found to produce a comparable locomotor activation of rats that is probably due to the excitation of dentate granule cells. Low dose hippocampal infusions of norepinephrine have been shown to significantly affect the quality but not the quantity of the locomotor activity or rats. Co-infusion of norepinephrine potentiated the effects of picrotoxin and blocked the effects of carbachol. It is hypothesized that the noradrenergic input to the area dentata increases the efficacy of extrinsic afferents while also facilitating recurrent granule cell inhibition mediated by GABAergic interneurons.

Behavior during hippocampal microinfusions. I. Norepinephrine and diversive exploration

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were surgically implanted with guide cannulas in the anterodorsal hippocampal formation. After recovery from surgery they were administered bilateral infusions into the dentate gyrus of D,L-norepinephrone (NE) at the rate of 0.025 microliter/min throughout a 40-min session in a holeboard/activity apparatus. The computerized holeboard system measured the animals' locomotor activity, stimulus responsivity, and response to novelty, and permitted the reconstruction and analysis of their sequential patterns of movement. The NE infusions failed to affect overall locomotion or holepoking, although group means were slightly elevated. Rearing frequency and duration were significantly increased, as were the number of different holes poked per 5-min epoch and the amount of time in and number of entries into the center region of the holeboard. The novel object reaction of NE-infused rats, measured as the increase in poke duration into holes with novel stimuli, was indistinguishable from that of saline-infused rats. The NE-infused rats exhibited more varied, widespread spatial distributions of sequential patterns of locomotor activity. A dose of the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol that was minimally effective when infused by itself blocked all of NE's affects when co-infused in the same solution. Infusions of the noradrenergic releasing agent tyramine mimicked NE's actions, whereas infusions of NE's relatively inactive stereoisomer D-NE or infusions into the overlying lateral ventrical failed to do so. Histological examination of dye-infused brains and microspectrofluorimetry of NE-infused brains treated using the Falck-Hillarp technique for the formaldehyde-induced fluorescence of monoamines indicated that spread of the infusate was confined to the dentate gyrus of the anterodorsal hippocampal formation. The behavioral profile of the NE-infused rats suggests a role for the noradrenergic input to the hippocampal formation in spontaneous environmental reconnaissance and the diversification of stimulus sampling-'diversive' exploration, as opposed to the inspection or 'specific' exploration of unfamiliar stimuli.

Chlordiazepoxide-induced released responding in extinction and punishment-conflict procedures is not altered by neonatal forebrain norepinephrine depletion

The effects of chlordiazepoxide (CDZ) in extinction and punishment-conflict tasks were examined in rats after neonatal systemic administration of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) to deplete forebrain norepinephrine (NE). At about 70 days of age the rats were water deprived and trained for three days to drink in a novel apparatus. On the fourth day (test day) drinking was either extinguished by elimination of water from the drinking tube or punished by lick-contingent shock. Just prior to this test session half of the vehicle and half of the 6-OHDA treated rats were given an injection of CDZ (8 mg/kg IP). Both the injection of CDZ and forebrain NE depletion prolonged responding during extinction and reduced the suppressant effects of punishment in male rats, and these effects were of similar magnitude. Furthermore, CDZ was as effective in neonatal 6-OHDA treated male rats as in vehicle treated rats indicating that decreased transmission is ascending NE fibers caused by CDZ is not solely responsible for its behavioral effects in extinction and conflict tasks. Rather, these effects may involve cooperative mediation by both noradrenergic and serotonergic forebrain terminals. Unexpectedly, CDZ's anti-extinction effect was absent in female rats and its anti-conflict effect observed only in NE depleted females.

Septal elicitation of hippocampal theta rhythm after localized de-afferentation of serotoninergic fibers

Previous experiments using serotonin antagonists and electrolytic raphe lesions suggest that the serotonergic input to the hippocampus inhibits low frequencey (< Hz) theta rhythm in the rat, whereas experiments using raphe stimulation suggest facilitation. The present experiments employed neurotoxic lesions of the serotonergic input to the hippocampus in an attempt to reproduce the effects of systemically administered antagonists. If the septal area is stimulated at frequencies between 6 and 10 Hz in the rat, the threshold current for driving hippocampal theta is minimum at 7.7 Hz. Systemic blockage of serotonergic synapses has been shown to shift this minimum to 6.9 Hz. In the present experiments, neurotoxic lesions were made with injections of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine into the cingulum bundle, fornix or both. The observed effect depended on the loss of serotonin in the hippocampus, rather than the site of injection, and extensive depletion shifted the minimum to 6.9 Hz. These results indicate that the fornix and cingulum serotonergic inputs to the hippocampus are functionally homogenous, at least with respect to this response; and that the effects of systemic manipulation of serotonin systems on the septal elicitation of hippocampal theta rhythm may be attributed to changes in these two inputs.