Differential recovery of function following caudate, hippocampal, and septal lesions in mice.

Tested female CF1 mice with bilateral caudate, hippocampal, or septal lesions for passive avoidance learning at 1-2, 7-8, or 28-29 days after surgery. Although each lesion induced a comparable learning impairment at 1-2 days after surgery, time-dependent recovery occurred only with caudate lesions. Each lesion also induced changes in sensitivity to dextroamphetamine and scopolamine at 1-2 days after surgery, and further time-dependent variations in drug sensitivity occurred only with caudate lesions. Results suggest that normal acquisition of passive avoidance behavior is mediated by a critical septal-hippocampal system and another, perhaps redundant, system involving the caudate. Time-dependent drug sensitivity changes following caudate lesions were consistent with a role of denervation supersensitivity in recovery of function. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)