Effects of Neonatal Increases in Interleukin-1β Levels on the Formation of Spatial Memory in Adult Rats

Abstract

Impairments to cognitive functions in in children and adults often result from various pathologies occurring during the prenatal period and early postnatal period of development (birth traumas, hypoxia, infectious diseases). The present study identified impaired learning in a Morris water maze in adult rats given interleukin-1β during the third week of life. Differences between experimental and control animals were seen in learning to find the platform and modifying the acquired skill (on positioning the platform in a new location). There was no change in extinction of the acquired skill. The nature of impairment to learning in experimental animals suggested impairment to the mechanisms long-term but not short-term memory.