Behavioral and adaptive status in an experimental model of Alzheimer's disease in rats

Ten days after bilateral electrolytic lesions of nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) we tested behavioral (spontaneous motor activity, acquisition and performance of two-way active avoidance, fear-response in open field test, foot shock induced aggression, depression-response in learned helplessness test) and adaptive status (body temperature at standard, hot and cold environment as well as cold restraint-induced gastric lesions) in adult male Wistar rats. Compared to intact control and sham-operated rats, the bilateral NBM-lesioned rats showed the significant impairment of learning behavior and reduced fear, aggression and depression as well as altered body temperature at standard and stressed conditions. Namely, it was established that body temperature in NBM-lesioned rats was significantly lower at standard laboratory conditions, but in these rats body temperature significantly was raised after exposing to cold and hot environment. On the other hand, spontaneous motor activity and number and length of cold restraint-induced gastric lesions (erosions and petechiae) in NBM-lesioned rats were similarly to those in both controls. It could be concluded that NBM plays a significant role in cognitive, emotional and adaptive processes in the rats.