Effect of antisera to β and γ goldfish brain proteins on the retention of a newly acquired behavior

Abstract

The metabolism of 3 brain cytoplasmic proteins (α, β, and γ) increases markedly when goldfish acquire a new pattern of behavior 13. Antisera specific to β and β + γ proteins were prepared 14 and injected into the fourth ventricle of the brains of trained animals at 8 and 24 h after the initiation of training. When tested 3 days later, such goldfish ( N= 98) could not recall the training; whereas trained goldfish ( N= 97) receiving non-immunized rabbit serum had complete recall of the behavior. Also no amnesia was obtained in control experiments in which trained goldfish were injected with an antiserum to a neural surface membrane protein NS-6. The fact that antisera to β + γ had no toxic effects was demonstrated by injecting them prior to training; no effects on the rate of acquisition and recall of the behavior was found. The antisera to β + γ were effective in inhibiting recall of the training when they were injected any time between 3 h up to 48 h after training; no effect was obtained at 72 h post training. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that β and γ might have some functional role in the plasticity of the CNS.