Interactions between 192-IgG saporin and intraseptal cholinergic and GABAergic drugs: role of cholinergic medial septal neurons in spatial working memory.

Rats were administered 192-IgG saporin (SAP) or vehicle into the medial septum-vertical limb of the diagonal band (MS-vDB). Starting 1 week later, the effects of intraseptal scopolamine, oxotremorine, and muscimol were tested in a T-maze alternation task. Choice accuracy in the absence of infusions did not differ between control and SAP-treated rats. Intraseptal scopolamine or muscimol impaired the choice accuracy of SAP-treated but not control rats. Oxotremorine impaired accuracy similarly in control and SAP-treated rats. The enhanced effects of scopolamine and muscimol produced by SAP are consistent with the hypothesis that cholinergic MS-vDB neurons are used in spatial working memory. The finding that SAP alone did not alter choice accuracy provides further evidence that cholinergic MS-vDB neurons are not necessary for spatial working memory. Thus, cholinergic MS-vDB neurons are involved in but not necessary for spatial working memory.