Development of amygdaloid cholinergic mediation of passive avoidance learning in the rat. I. Muscarinic mechanisms

Passive avoidance learning was studied in young rats 13-30 days of age following bilateral injections of saline or antimuscarinic and/or muscarinic agents into three amygdaloid nuclei--lateral (L), basolateral (BL), and cortical (CO). While acquisition was not influenced by saline injections into various other cerebral structures, it was significantly altered by similar injections into these amygdaloid nuclei, especially by those into the BL nucleus, suggesting that this nucleus is particularly involved in passive avoidance learning. Atropine induced significant deficits from as early as 13 days on. These deficits increased and were of similar strength after injections into any of the three studied nuclei until day 16; after that age, they diminished slightly following CO and L nuclei administration, while remaining substantial after BL nucleus injections at all ages, even at 30 days. No facilitatory effects could be elicited by arecoline injected alone, while arecoline could antagonize the disturbing effect of atropine, when given in combination, from day 13 on. These results suggest a muscarinic cholinergic mediation of passive avoidance learning through the synaptic elements located in the basal lateral part of the amygdala in the young rat.