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Updated: May 21, 2026
A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation
Published on: August 18, 2014
Neonatal serotonin (5-HT) depletion does not affect spatial learning and memory in rats
Agnieszka Piechal1, Kamilla Blecharz-Klin, Edyta Wyszogrodzka
1Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28, PL 00-927 Warszawa, Poland.
Background:
Extensive previous research has suggested a role for serotonin (5-HT) in learning and memory processes, both in healthy individuals and pathological disorders including depression, autism and schizophrenia, most of which have a developmental onset. Since 5-HT dysfunction in brain development may be involved in disease etiology, the present investigation assessed the effects of neonatal 5-HT depletion on spatial learning and memory in the Morris water maze (MWM).
Methods:
Three days old Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with desipramine (20 mg/kg) followed by an intraventricular injection of the selective 5-HT neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT, 70 μg). Three months later rats were tested in the MWM.
Results:
Despite a severe and permanent decrease (80-98%) in hippocampal, prefrontal and striatal 5-HT levels, treatment with 5,7-DHT caused no spatial learning and memory impairment.
Conclusions:
Limited involvement of chronic 5-HT depletion on learning and memory does not exclude the possibility that this neurotransmitter has an important neuromodulatory role in these functions. Future studies will be needed to identify the nature of the compensatory processes that are able to allow normal proficiency of spatial learning and memory in 5-HT-depleted rats.
