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. 1992 Apr 15;89(8):3615–3619. doi: 10.1073/pnas.89.8.3615

Basolateral amygdala lesions block diazepam-induced anterograde amnesia in an inhibitory avoidance task.

C Tomaz 1, H Dickinson-Anson 1, J L McGaugh 1
PMCID: PMC48919  PMID: 1565657

Abstract

This experiment examined the effects of diazepam (DZP) on acquisition and retention of an inhibitory avoidance response by rats with excitotoxic-induced lesions of central (CE), lateral (LAT), or basolateral (BL) amygdala nuclei. Sham-operated and lesioned rats received i.p. injections of DZP (2.0 mg per kg of body weight) 30 min before training in a continuous multiple-trial inhibitory avoidance task. Retention was tested 48 h later. Acquisition was not impaired by the lesions or the DZP. Retention was impaired in animals with CE and LAT lesions in comparison with sham-operated controls. DZP impaired retention in the sham-operated controls as well as CE- and LAT-lesioned animals but did not affect retention in animals with BL lesions. These findings indicate that the DZP-induced anterograde amnesia for inhibitory avoidance training is mediated through influences involving the BL amygdala nucleus.

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Selected References

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