Abstract
The effects of food deprivation and preliminary training treatments on choline acetylase and acetylcholine esterase activity in the dorsal hippocampus and frontal cortex of rats have been investigated. In addition, blood sugar and adrenal epinephrine levels were examined. The activity of choline acetylase and the levels of blood sugar and adrenal epinephrine were significantly altered during various stages of preliminary training but all values were comparable to pre-experimental levels before discrimination commenced. In addition, rats were injected physostigmine salicylate (0.25 mg/kg) or saline i.p. each day immediately after receiving three training trials on a food-motivated black-white task. The physostigmine injected rats were significantly better than the controls in rate learning.
No differences were observed in choline acetylase activity in the dorsal hippocampus and frontal cortex in discriminating rats treated with physostigmine or saline. However, choline acetylase activity is lower in treated and control rats which did not discriminate at the end of the 14th session.
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Izquierdo, J.A., Baratti, C.M., Torrelio, M. et al. Effects of food deprivation, discrimination experience and physostigmine on choline acetylase and acetylcholine esterase in the dorsal hippocampus and frontal cortex of rats. Psychopharmacologia 33, 103–110 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428798
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428798