Behavioral and cognitive changes after early postnatal lesions of the rat mediodorsal thalamus.

ABSTRACT: Early insults to the thalamus result in functional and/or structural abnormalities in the cerebral cortex. However, differences in behavioral and cognitive changes after early insult are not well characterized. The present study assessed whether early postnatal damage to mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus (MD), reciprocally interconnected with the prefrontal cortex, causes behavioral and cognitive alterations in young adult rats. Rat pups at postnatal day 4 received bilateral electrolytic lesion of MD, or a MD Sham lesion or were anesthetized controls; on recovery they were returned to their mothers until weaning. Seven weeks later, all rats were tested with the following behavioral and cognitive paradigms: T-maze test, open field test, actimetry, elevated plus maze test, social interacti

SUBMITTER: Ouhaz Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4571833 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature