DOPAMINERGIC PROJECTION TO THE SEPTUM MEDIATES FACILITATORY EFFECT OFANGIOTENSINS ON RECOGNITION MEMORY IN RATS

We have previously reported that the dopaminergic projection from A10 ventral tegmental neurons to the central amygdala is, in part, respons ible for the facilitatory effect of angiotensin II (AII) and its 3-7 f ragment [AII(3-7)] on the retrieval of information in memory motivated affectively and also on recognition memory. In this study, the influe nce of both angiotensins, given intracerebroventricularly at the dose of 1 nmol each, in rats lesioned with 6-OHDA to the nucleus accumbens septi (NAS) and to the nucleus septi lateralis (NSL) on recognition me mory was evaluated. AII and its 3-7 fragment significantly improved ob ject recognition in sham-operated to NAS and to NSL groups of rats. Bi lateral 6-OHDA lesions to NAS totally abolished and to NSL significant ly attenuated the facilitatory effect of both angiotensins on object r ecognition. These results suggest that the dopaminergic projection arr iving to the septal structures, NAS and NSL takes part in the facilita tory effect of angiotensins on recognition memory. (C) 1997 The Italia n Pharmacological Society.