Abstract
The effects of the acquisition of a delayed response task on the central catecholamine and serotonin metabolism were investigated in normal, undrugged cats. The training (11 consecutive days) produced an increased serotonin content in the piriform lobe, mesencephalon without the raphe nuclei and medulla without the raphe nuclei, whereas the 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid level was increased in the piriform lobe and mesencephalon without the raphe nuclei, but decreased in the pons without the raphe nuclei. The noradrenaline content was decreased by the training in the frontal cortex and piriform lobe, whereas the dopamine concentration was increased in the piriform lobe. Tryptophan hydroxylase activity was increased in the piriform lobe, in the mesencephalon without the raphe nuclei and in the raphe nuclei of the mesencephalon, pons and medulla whereas training did not produce any significant effect on the dopamine β-hydroxylase activity. These results indicate the involvement of an active biochemical mechanism fulfilled by the serotoninergic mesolimbic system in association with the noradrenergjc pontocorticolimbic system and the limbic dopaminergic system. They also suggest that these well localized biochemical changes reflect processes involved in the performance criterion of the delayed response task.
Published Version
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