[Abstract Title]. - Society for Neuroscience

suggest that decreased activity in cortical regions-particularly the frontal cortex contributes to
cognitive dysfunction in WKS and potentially diencephalic amnesia.
Disclosures: S.J. Anzalone , None; R.P. Vetreno, None; L.M. Savage, None.
Poster
292. Acetylcholine, Neurotrophins, and Cognition
Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Program#/Poster#: 292.5/SS18
Topic: F.02.d. Cognitive learning and memory systems
Support: NINDS Grant RO1NS054272
Title: The role of anterior thalamic nuclei and mammillary bodies in spatial exploration and
hippocampal acetylcholine release: relation to diencephalic amnesia
Authors: *R. P. VETRENO 1 , L. M. SAVAGE 2 ;
1 Dept Psychology, 2 Binghamton Univ. - SUNY, Binghamton, NY
Abstract: Several nuclei of the diencephalon are important for normal learning and memory
function. However, the specific diencephalic nuclei and/or neural pathways that must undergo
damage to result in memory impairment have not yet fully been determined. Damage to certain
nuclei and fiber systems within the diencephalon interrupt the flow of information between key
memory structures. Thus, the diencephalon may serve as a link between limbic and cortical
structures, and damage to the diencephalon can contribute to amnesia through what has been
called a "disconnection syndrome".
In the current investigation using male Sprague-Dawley rats, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)
was used to produce lesions of either: (1) the anterior thalamic nuclei (ATH), or (2) the
mammillary bodies (MMB). In vivo acetylcholine (ACh) efflux in the ventral hippocampus was
measured as the subjects were tested on a spontaneous alternation task. Statistically, ATH and
sham-lesioned (SHAM) control rats did not differ in the number of arms entered during testing,
but the ATH animals demonstrated significantly impaired alteration rates relative to the SHAM
subjects. The ATH animals also demonstrated a statistically significant increase in perseveration
rates. The preliminary data on MMB lesioning was suggestive of impaired spontaneous
alternation and increased perseveration. We will assess whether lesioning to the anterior thalamic
nuclei and mammillary bodies impair ACh efflux and functioning in the hippocampus. The goal
of this neurochemical analysis was to assess the “disconnection syndrome” hypothesis.
Disclosures: R.P. Vetreno , None; L.M. Savage, None.