Intracerebral administration of antibodies to SMP-69 protein to rats 24 h prior to passive avoidance conditioning impaired memory processes, while the administration 48 h after learning had no such effect. Activation of RNA and protein synthesis was observed 24 h after the administration. It is suggested that the impaired consolidation of memory traces is due to the synthesis of "anticonsolidation" proteins.
Key Words: antibodies to SMP-69 protein; memoly consolidation; transcription; translationStudies on different models of learning have shown that serotonin is involved in the consolidation of memory traces [4,8,12,14]. Both the decrease in the brain content of serotonin after destruction of serotoninergic neurons with intracerebrally administered specific neurotoxins [2] and experimental elevation of brain serotonin [ 15] impair memory formation. The involvement of serotonin in memory consolidation is determined by its regulatory effect on genetic apparatus of neurons [9]. Therefore, investigation of serotonin effects on genome activity can clarify the mechanisms of its participation in memory consolidation. Previously, we identified and purified a new serotonin-modulated brain protein SMP-69 [1,5].This study analyzed the effects of antibodies (AB) to SMP-69 on memory processes and genomic activity in rat neurons.
MATERIALS AND METHODSPolyclonal AB to SMP-69 were isolated by affinity chromatography from the serum of rabbits immunized for 3-4 months with SMP-69 [7].
A. I. Karaev Institute of Physiology, Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, BakuPassive avoidance conditioning was used to assess the effect of AB on memory processes. Experimental chamber consisted of 2 compartments (illuminated and dark) connected by a narrow passage. During the acquisition procedure, the rat was placed into the light compartment and after transition into the dark compartment received intermittent footshock (0.8 mA) applied through electrified floor. After shock the animal returned to the light compartment and was taken out. In the retention test (10-rain session) the animal was placed into the light compartment and was not shocked when entering the dark compartment. During this test the following indices were measured: the latency of entering the dark compartment, the time spent in each compartment and near the entrance to the dark compartment.Preparations were administered in the left lateral ventricle under ether anesthesia. The rats were divided into experimental and control groups (n=12 each). The experimental rats received 10/al AB (1.5 mg/ml), control rats received the same volume of nonimmune y-globulins. In series I, the preparations were administered 24 h prior to learning passive avoidance task; the retention of the learned response was tested 48 h afterwards. In series II, animals received the preparations 48 h after training and were tested for retention 24 h postinjection.0007 -4888/99/0008-0779522.00 ~ Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers