Effects of BNST lesions in female rats on forced swimming and navigational learning.
Brain Res
; 1228: 199-207, 2008 Sep 04.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18619949
ABSTRACT
The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) in the forebrain shows sexual dimorphism in its neuroanatomical connectivity and neurochemical characteristics. The structure is involved in many behavioral and motivational phenomena particularly related to coping with stress. Female rats differ from males in responding to stressful situations such as forced swimming and navigational learning in the water maze. It was previously shown that bilateral damage to the BNST in male Wistar rats aggravated depression as measured by forced swim tests, but did not impair navigational learning in the water maze. The present study extended the findings to female rats demonstrating that bilateral electrolytic lesions of the BNST increased immobility and decreased climbing compared to sham-operated controls, but failed to affect performance in the water maze. Additionally, lesions did not alter behavior in the open field and the elevated plus-maze tests suggesting not only that the modulation of depression by BNST lesions is specific, but also providing support for the view that the BNST may not necessarily be critically involved in anxiety.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Núcleos Septais
/
Estresse Psicológico
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Natação
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Comportamento Animal
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Aprendizagem em Labirinto
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Brain Res
Ano de publicação:
2008
Tipo de documento:
Article