Enhanced Acoustic Startle Responding in Rats with Radiation-Induced Hippocampal Granule Cell Hypoplasia
Abstract
Irradiation of the neonatal rat hippocampus reduces the proliferation of granule cells in the dentate gyrus and results in locomotor hyperactivity, behavioral preservation and deficits on some learned tasks. In order to address the role of changes in stimulus salience and behavioral inhibition in animals with this type of brain damage, irradiated and normal rats were compared in their startle reactions to an acoustic stimulus. Irradiated rats startled with a consistently higher amplitude than control and were more likely to exhibit startle responses. These animals with hippocampal damage also failed to habituate to the startle stimulus and, under certain circumstances, showed potentiated startle responses after many tone presentations. Keywords: Startle; Hippocampus; Dentate gyrus; Granule cells; Radiation; Reprints.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA211220
Entities
People
- G. A. Mickley
- J. L. Ferguson
Organizations
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute