Effect of serotonin on Y-maze retention and hippocampal protein synthesis in rats

• Published in: Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 319 - 322
• Main Authors: Wetzel, W., Getsova, V.M., Jork, R., Matthies, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.1980
• Subjects: Animals; Brightness discrimination; Hippocampus; Hippocampus - drug effects; Hippocampus - metabolism; Learning - drug effects; Leucine - metabolism; Male; Memory - drug effects; Memory consolidation; Nerve Tissue Proteins - biosynthesis; Prejudice - drug effects; Protein synthesis; Rats; Serotonin; Serotonin - pharmacology; Memory consolidation; Serotonin; Protein synthesis; Brightness discrimination; Hippocampus
• ISSN: 0091-3057; 1873-5177
• DOI: 10.1016/0091-3057(80)90378-0

The effect of serotonin (5-HT) on consolidation of a brightness discrimination reaction was investigated in rats. Five μg 5-HT, injected intrahippocampally immediately after training, impaired retention of the brightness discrimination tested 24 hr later. In biochemical experiments, leucine incorporation into hippocampal proteins in vivo was 32% inhibited by 5 μg 5-HT. Leucine incorporation into proteins of hippocampal slices in vitro was decreased by 5 × 10 −3M 5-HT. The results seem to support Essman's assumption that inhibition of brain protein synthesis by 5-HT may be responsible for the memory impairment. But also some other possibilities for a mechanism of 5-HT amnesia must be discussed.