Intra-amygdala ZIP injections impair the memory of learned active avoidance responses and attenuate conditioned taste-aversion acquisition in rats

Abstract

We have investigated the effect of protein kinase Mzeta (PKMζ) inhibition in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) upon the retention of a nonspatial learned active avoidance response and conditioned taste-aversion (CTA) acquisition in rats. ZIP (10 nmol/μL) injected into the BLA 24 h after training impaired retention of a learned avoidance-jumping response assessed 7 d later when compared with control groups injected with scrambled-ZIP. Nevertheless, a retraining session applied 24 h later indicated no differences between the groups. Additionally, a similar ZIP injection into the BLA during the conditioned stimulus–unconditioned stimulus (CS–US) interval attenuated CTA acquisition. These findings support the BLA PKMζ role in various forms of memory.