Consequences of Pentylenetetrazole Kindling on Spatial Memory and Emotional Responding in the Rat

We investigated the consequences of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) kindling on cognitive capacities of rats in a Morris water maze assessing spatial reference memory and in the spontaneous alternation test used as an index of working memory. The emotional consequences of PTZ kindling were also evaluated in an elevated plus maze test. Results indicated that PTZ kindled rats were not different from controls in mastering the water maze. However, PTZ kindled rats did not persist in searching the platform when evaluated at the end of learning. This suggests an altered place memory, although alternative explanations, like reduced anxiety, may be involved. Indeed, such anxiolytic activity was observed in a separate group of kindled rats evaluated in the plus maze test. No significant effect of PTZ kindling was noted in the spontaneous alternation test. These results question the generalization of previous results obtained in learning tests using electric shocks and illustrate the complexity of the PTZ model for the study of the behavioral consequences of kindling. (C) 2000 Academic Press