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[Changes in the behavior and EEG of rats administered penicillin and a physiological solution into the amygdalar
N B Pankova1, G N Kryzhanovskiĭ, Iu B Kuznetsov
1Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow.
Abstract:
Three weeks after implantation of the electrodes for EEG recording, hyperactivation of the basal nucleus of rat's amygdala was produced by a local injection of penicillin (0.5 mcl, 1% solution). Saline injection of the same volume served as control. The hyperactivation of the amygdala resulted in a long-lasting (at least for 3 weeks) increase in the locomotor activity against the background and deficit in exploratory behavior and rise of the level of anxiety and fear. The behavioral changes were accompanied by a long-term disruption of the hippocampal theta rhythm, appearance and slowing of the immobility-related high-voltage spindles, and increase in the EEG dominant frequency in the state of emotional tension. Saline injection led to a short-time (up to 1 week) decrease in locomotor and exploratory activity and increase in anxiety. These phenomena were accompanied by a short-time disruption of the theta rhythm and appearance of the 10-13-Hz oscillations characteristic for the state of emotional tension.