ETHANOL-INDUCED AND DIAZEPAM-INDUCED CYTOCHROME-OXIDASE ACTIVITY IN MAMMILLARY BODIES

This study aims to analyze the effect of the administration of diazepa m and alcohol on cytochrome c oxidase activity (COX) in the mammillary bodies (MB) with a quantitative densitometry method. The histochemica l reaction of the COX is used as a reflection of energy consumption. O ur results show an increase in the COX activity after treatment with d iazepam in the different nuclei of MB: medial medial nucleus (MMNm), l ateral medial nucleus (MMN1), and lateral nucleus (LMN) of the MB, the MMNm and LMN being significantly more active compared to the MMN1. Fu rthermore, the consequences of administering these drugs become manife st in spatial learning (water T maze). The performance in a spatial di scrimination task did not prove to be impaired. Copyright (C) 1996 Els evier Science Inc.