Mb. Andersen et F. Samsdodd, TRANSIENT CEREBRAL-ISCHEMIA INHIBITS JUVENILE RECOGNITION IN THE MONGOLIAN GERBIL, Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior, 56(4), 1997, pp. 719-725
This study introduces a social recognition test for Mongolian gerbils
and describes the effect of transient global cerebral ischemia in this
model. Adult male gerbils were exposed to an unfamiliar juvenile stim
ulus animal in two successive trials. The difference between the first
and second exposures in duration of social investigation of the stimu
lus animal was used as a measure of social recognition. Recognition of
the stimulus animal was seen after interexposure intervals (IEI) of 5
and 30 min, but not after 120 min, This is in concordance with data o
btained in rats in a similar model. The capacity for social recognitio
n was subsequently investigated in gerbils 1 week after 0 (sham), 4, o
r 8 min of bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries. An IEI
of 30 min was used, as this IEI was within the time limit for recognit
ion of the stimulus animal. Social recognition was impaired in both oc
clusion groups. The results suggest that the juvenile recognition test
is a suitable model for testing amnesia in gerbils and that social ol
factory memory is impaired by global cerebral ischemia. (C) 1997 Elsev
ier Science Inc.