Hippocampus Ghrelin Regulation Of Learning And Memory In The Septal Nucleus

Objective:To explore the effects and mechanisms of Ghrelin on the learning and memory in septal nucleus lesioning rats.Methods:The septal nucleus Was destructed by direct current using stereotactic technique. Step-down test and morris water maze were used to test the effects of learning and memory ability by means of microinjecting Ghrelin into hippocampal CA2-3 area in rats. Results Ghrelin injection of hippocampal CA2-3 area could promoter learning and memory ability in rats.Results:It showed that the escaped latent period was significantly lengthened (p<0.05) and the wrong numbers in 5min were obviously decreased in escape response test; and the latency of looking for the plat was significantly shorter in morris water maze test (p<0.05). However the effects above-mentioned on learning and memory was significantly weak after septal nucleus lesioning. It showed that the escaped latent peroid was markedly shortened (p<0.05) and the wrong numbers in 5min were obviously increased (p<0.05) in escape response test. The latency of looking for the plat was significantly lengthened in morris water maze (p<0.01).Conclusion:It indicates that ghrelin could elevate the learning and memory ability in hippocampus, and the effects may be related to the septal-hippocampus pathway.