Blockade of noradrenergic receptors in the basolateral amygdala impairs taste memory

M I Miranda; R T LaLumiere; T V Buen; F Bermudez-Rattoni; J L McGaugh

doi:10.1046/j.1460-9568.2003.03008.x

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Blockade of noradrenergic receptors in the basolateral amygdala impairs taste memory

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Blockade of noradrenergic receptors in the basolateral amygdala impairs taste memory

M I Miranda, R T LaLumiere, T V Buen, F Bermudez-Rattoni and J L McGaugh

The European journal of neuroscience, Vol.18(9), pp.2605-2610

11/2003

DOI: 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2003.03008.x

PMID: 14622162

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Abstract

In conditioned taste aversion (CTA), a subject learns to associate a novel taste (conditioned stimulus, CS) with visceral malaise (unconditioned stimulus, US). Considerable evidence indicates that the noradrenergic system in the amygdala plays an important role in memory consolidation for emotionally arousing experiences. The specific aim of the present set of experiments was to determine the involvement of noradrenergic activity in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) during the US presentation and consolidation of CTA as well as during the consolidation of a nonaversive/incidental gustatory memory. Selective bilateral microinfusions of the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol administered into the BLA immediately before intraperitoneal (i.p.) lithium chloride (LiCl) injections disrupted CTA memory. Additionally, propranolol infused into the BLA immediately after a pre-exposure to the saccharin (CS) significantly attenuated latent inhibition. The present findings indicating that alterations in noradrenergic function in the BLA affect taste memory formation, provide additional evidence that the BLA plays a critical role in modulating the consolidation of memory and that the influence is mediated by interactions with other brain regions that support memory for different kinds of experiences.

Memory - drug effects

Amygdala - physiopathology

Amygdala - drug effects

Conditioning, Classical - drug effects

Nausea - chemically induced

Norepinephrine - physiology

Rats

Male

Avoidance Learning - physiology

Receptors, Adrenergic, beta - physiology

Conditioning, Classical - physiology

Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - pharmacology

Propranolol - pharmacology

Saccharin

Animals

Avoidance Learning - drug effects

Taste

Receptors, Adrenergic, beta - drug effects

Amygdala - physiology

Lithium Chloride

Memory - physiology

Sweetening Agents

Details

Title: Subtitle: Blockade of noradrenergic receptors in the basolateral amygdala impairs taste memory
Creators: M I Miranda - Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory and Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3800, USA. mmiranda@ifc.unam.mx
R T LaLumiere
T V Buen
F Bermudez-Rattoni
J L McGaugh
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The European journal of neuroscience, Vol.18(9), pp.2605-2610
Publisher: France
DOI: 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2003.03008.x
PMID: 14622162
ISSN: 0953-816X
eISSN: 1460-9568
Grant note: NIMH12526 / NIMH NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 11/2003
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984070978602771

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