Transplantation of Fetal Hippocampus May Prevent or Produce Behavioral Recovery From Hippocampal Ablation and Recovery Persists After Removal of the Transplant

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1990

Description

This chapter examines whether or not the transplant circuitry, including both the intrinsic connections among transplant neurons and the afferent and efferent connections of the principal neurons of the transplant with the host brain, might be necessary for the recovery of function associated with the transplantation of fetal tissue into cavities created by the bilateral aspiration of the hippocampus in adult rats. The procedures used to produce the lesions in the adult rats and obtain the fetal brain tissue have been described in detail in the chapter. Pregnant female hooded rats serve as donors for the fetal material. Rats to be given lesions are anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital. After the scalp is incised and small holes drilled in the skull, a lesion that encompasses most of the septa1 end of the hippocampus and as much of the ventrocaudal hippocampus as can be removed without damage to lateral thalamic structures is produced by aspiration. A photomicrograph of 2 levels through such a lesion is presented in the chapter. Histological analysis indicates that bilateral transplants are present in all of the grafted rats. The mean number of responses, number of reinforcements, and percent correct for each 5 consecutive days is calculated for each rat to provide data for the statistical analysis of the differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL) performance. The integrity of the transplant circuitry is not necessary for continuation of the ability to perform DRL once recovery has been established.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS