Abstract
Research on consolidation of long-term memory suggests that acute immune system activation induced by endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) may disrupt consolidation of newly acquired learning. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to perform a simple Y-maze task and were immediately afterwards administered LPS (15 μg/kg) or saline. After a seven-day interval, subjects were returned to the Y-maze and were retrained to criterion. It was found that subjects treated with saline required significantly fewer trials to relearn the task relative to the LPS group and a no-partial-learning control group, which themselves did not differ. These results are most readily explained in terms of a disruptive effect of acute immune system activation on consolidation of newly induced acquired memories.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Araujo, D.M., Lapchak, P., Collier, B., & Quirion, R. (1989). Localization of IL-2 immunoreactivity and IL-2 receptors in the rat brain: Interaction with the cholinergic system.Brain Research, 498, 257–266.
Aubert, A., Vega, C., Dantzer, R., & Goodall, G. (1995). Pyrogens specifically disrupt the acquisition of a task involving cognitive processes in the rat.Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 9, 129–148.
Barnum, S.R. (1995). Complement biosynthesis in the central nervous system.Critical Reviews in Oral Biological Medicine, 6, 132–145.
Bhat, N.R., Zhang, P., Lee, J.C., & Hogan, E.L. (1998). Extracellular signal-related kinase and p38 subgroups of mitogen-activated protein kinases regulate inducible nitric oxide synthase and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene expression in endotoxin-stimulated primary glial cultures.Journal of Neuroscience, 18, 1633–1641.
Brennan, F.X., Beck, K.D., & Servatius, R.J. (2003). Low doses of interleukin-1β improve the leverpress avoidance performance of Sprague-Dawley rats.Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 168–171.
Bull, D.F., Brown, R., King, M.G., & Husband, A.J. (1991). Modulation of body temperature through taste aversion conditioning.Physiology & Behavior, 49, 1229–1233.
Denicoff, K.D., Rubinow, D.R., Papa, M.Z., Simpson, C., Seipp, C.A., Lotze, M.T., et al. (1987). The neuropsychiatric effects of treatment with IL-2 and lymphokine-activated killer cells.Annals of Internal Medicine, 107, 293–300.
Gahtan, E. (1999).Effect of immune system activation on learning and memory in rodent models of Alzheimer’s pathogenesis. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Gibertini, M., Newton, C., Friedman, H., & Klein, T.W. (1995). Spatial learning impairment in mice infected withlegionella pneumophila or administered exogenous interleukin-1.Brain, Behavior, & Immunity, 9, 1113–1128.
Hanisch, U., Seto, D., & Quirion, R. (1993). Modulation of hippocampal ACh release: A potent central action for IL-2.Journal of Neuroscience, 13, 3368–3374.
Linthorst, A.C., Flachskamm, C., Mueller-Preuss, P., Holsboer, F., & Reul, J.M. (1995). Effect of bacterial endotoxin and interleukin-1β on hippocampal serotonergic neurotransmission, behavioral activity, and free corticosterone levels: An in vivo microdialysis study.Journal of Neuroscience, 15, 2920–2934.
McDonald, M.P., Dahl, E.E., Overmier, J.B., Mantyh, P., & Cleary, J. (1994). Effects of an exogenous betaamyloid peptide on retention for spatial learning.Behavioral and Neural Biology, 62, 60–67.
McMillan, M., Kong, L., Sawin, S.M., Wilson, B., Das, K., Hudson, P., et al. (1995). Selective killing of cholinergic neurons by microglial activation in basal forebrain mixed neuronal/glial cultures.Biochemical & Biophysical Research Communications, 215, 572–577.
Poutiainen, E., Hokkanen, L., Niemi, M.L., & Farkkila, M. (1994). Reversible cognitive decline during high-dose alpha-interferon treatment.Pharmacology, Biochemistry, & Behavior, 47, 901–905.
Pugh, C.R., Kumagawa, K., Fleshner, M., Watkins, L.R., Maier, S.F., & Rudy, J.W. (1998). Selective effects of peripheral lipopolysaccharide administration on contextual and auditory-cue fear conditioning.Brain, Behavior, & Immunity, 12, 212–229.
Toulmand, S., Parnet, P. & Lindhorst, A.C.E. (1996). When cytokines get on your nerves: Cytokine networks and CNS pathologies.Trends in Neuroscience, 19, 409–410.
Walker, L.G., Wesnes, K.P., Heys, S.D., Walker, M.B., Lolley, L., & Eremin, O. (1996). Cognitive effects of rIL-2 therapy: a controlled clinical trial using computerized assessment.European Journal of Cancer, 32A, 2275–2283.
Weingarten, S., Senn, M., & Langhans, W. (1993). Does a learned taste aversion contribute to the anoretic effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharide?Physiology & Behavior, 54, 961–966.
Willard, L.B., Hauss-Wegryzniak, B., & Wenk, G.L. (1999). Pathological and biochemical consequences of acute and chronic neuroinflammation with the basal forebrain cholinergic system of rats.Neuroscience, 88, 193–200.
Yirmiya, R., Winocur, G., & Goshen, I. (2002). Brain interleukin-1 is involved in spatial memory and passive avoidance conditioning.Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 78, 379–389.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Holden, J.M., Overmier, J.B., Cowan, E.T. et al. Effects of lipopolysaccharide on consolidation of partial learning in the Y-maze. Integr. psych. behav. 39, 334–340 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02734171
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02734171