INFLUENCE OF MULTIPLE GABA AND BICUCULLIN E INTRASTRIATAL MICROINJECTIONS ON ALIMENTARY OPERANT PERFORMANCE OF RATS

The effects of three-week daily intrastriatal GABA (45 mcg) and bicucu llin (5 mcg) microinjections on operant performance in the Skinner's b ox were studied in rats. GABA was shown to facilitate the operant resp onses (the rate of lever pressings increased, spontaneous motor activi ty became optimized). Bicucullin produced the opposite effects, i. e., the operant skill practically disappeared at the second-third week of injections. The operant behaviour was substantially influences by suc h factors as neurosurgery trauma, narcosis, and injections as demonstr ated in control experiments. The findings suggest the involvement of G ABAergic neostriatal system in realization of conditioned motor alimen tary behaviour.