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The Role of Substance P in the Marginal Division of the Neostriatum in Learning and Memory is Mediated Through the Neurokinin 1 Receptor in Rats

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Abstract

Substance P (SP) is a neuropeptide that plays an important role in inflammation, respiration, pain, aggression, anxiety, and learning and memory mainly through its high affinity neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R). The marginal division (MrD) is a pan-shaped subdivision in the caudomedial margin of the neostriatum in the mammalian brain and is known to be involved in learning and memory. We studied the expression of SP, NK1R and NK1R mRNA in the rat striatum by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization, and found that the levels of SP, NK1R protein and NK1R mRNA were high in the cell bodies, fibers and terminals of neurons in the neostriatum, especially in the MrD. Knocking down NK1R activity in the MrD by using an antisense oligonucleotide against NK1R mRNA inhibited learning and memory in a Y-maze behavioral test. Our results show that NK1R mediates the role of SP in the MrD in learning and memory.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30600797 and No. 30873238).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China

    Xue-mei Liu, Chang-chun Zeng, Chuan-xing Wang & Jian Fang

  2. Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China

    Si Yun Shu

  3. First Department of Neurology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China

    Ye-feng Cai

  4. Institute of Neuroscience, Zhu-Jiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China

    Kui-hua Zhang

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  1. Xue-mei Liu
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  2. Si Yun Shu
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  3. Chang-chun Zeng
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  4. Ye-feng Cai
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  5. Kui-hua Zhang
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  6. Chuan-xing Wang
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Correspondence to Si Yun Shu or Chang-chun Zeng.

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Liu, Xm., Shu, S.Y., Zeng, Cc. et al. The Role of Substance P in the Marginal Division of the Neostriatum in Learning and Memory is Mediated Through the Neurokinin 1 Receptor in Rats. Neurochem Res 36, 1896–1902 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-011-0511-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-011-0511-5

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