Behavioral Consequences of Kainic Acid Lesions and Fetal Transplants of the Striatum
Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to examine the role that the striatum has in regulating behavior. The first experiment assessed the behavioral effects caused by kainic acid lesions of the striatum in male Wistar rats 2 weeks after surgery. Specifically, kainic acid or sham lesions were made bilaterally in the dorsal striatum, and the effects of these lesions on the weight of the animals, on their spontaneous and amphetamine affected locomotor behavior, on their response to theconvulsant metrazol, and on a T-maze, were measured over 2 weeks following surgery. The lesioned group showed deficits on all the behavioral measures in a pattern consistent with that reported by previous authors. The second experiment evaluated the effect of fetal striatal transplants on behavioral deficits resulting from kainic acid striatal lesions. Three groups of female rats, including controls (sham lesion/sham transplant), lesioned only (lesioned/sham transplant), and transplanted (lesioned/day 18 fetal striatal transplant) were assessed on seven measures, done at weekly, monthly, or 3 month intervals. Weekly measures included brief examinations of sensorimotor functioning of the rats, as well as weekly weight measures. Monthly assessments were done on locomotor behavior by examining spontaneous and amphetamine affected behavior in an open field. Finally, at 3-4 months post lesion, three behavioral measures were done, including response to the convulsant metrazol, T-maze behavior, and locomotor activity in an animal activity monitor. The lesioned only female rats had striatal cell lossescomparable to those seen in the lesioned males. In addition, they evidenced some similar behavioral deficits. They showed an impaired T-maze performance, and an amphetamine-induced hyperactivity, compared to controls. Conversely, the female rats appeared different from the males in that they were hyperactive in the animal activity monitor and gained weight following the lesions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 12, 1984
- Accession Number
- AD1010701
Entities
People
- Albert Jr W. Deckel
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences