6-OHDA BILATERAL LESIONS TO THE CENTRAL AMYGDALA DO NOT AFFECT VASOPRESSIN IMPROVEMENT OF RECALL IN RATS

The influence of vasopressin (AVP) on recall of information in a passi ve avoidance situation after bilateral 6-OHDA lesions to the central a mygdala was tested. AVP given 15 min before the retention testing at t he icy dose of 1 mu g significantly prolonged avoidance latencies both in lesioned and in sham-operated rats in comparison with the respecti ve icy saline injected animals. Insignificant increase of spontaneous locomotor activity in rats lesioned to the central amygdala was unlike ly to interfere with the cognitive effect of AVP. These results sugges t that dopaminergic projection to the central amygdala is not responsi ble for the facilitatory effect of AVP on retrieval process in a passi ve avoidance situation.