Basal Forebrain Neurons and Memory: A Biochemical, Histological, and Behavioral Study of Differential Vulnerability to Ibotenate and Quisqualate

Gary L. Wenk, Cheryl A. Harrington, Deborah A. Tucker, Naomi E. Rance, Lary C. Walker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

The differential vulnerability of basal forebrain cells to ibotenate (IBO) or quisqualate (QUIS) was investigated in rats. IBO was also coinjected with cystine (CYS) or zinc (Zn). Cortical choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity, neurotensin receptors, and high-affinity choline uptake sites were quantified in conjunction with radioimmunoassays for neurotensin, substance P, and somatostatin; immunocytochemistry for neurotensin-, somatostatin-, Leu-enkephalin-, and ChAT-positive cells; and in situ hybridization histochemistry of somatostatin, substance P, and enkephalin mRNAs. Compared with the performance of controls, continuous alternation performance in a T maze of IBO+Zn or IBO+CYS rats was better than that of IBO rats, whereas the performance of QUIS rats was unimpaired. Of those neurotransmitter systems examined, only ChAT-immunoreactive cells were vulnerable to IBO or QUIS. However, cholinergic cell loss did not correlate with impaired performance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)909-923
Number of pages15
JournalBehavioral Neuroscience
Volume106
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1992

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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