Evidence for interactions between central noradrenergic neurons and adrenal hormones in learning and memory.

The role of ascending noradrenergic projections in the acquisition and retention of a passive avoidance step-down response was evaluated by means of bilateral stereotaxic 6-hydroxydopamine-induced lesions of these systems. Lesions of the dorsal NA bundle alone, or in combination with lesions of the ventral NA bundle, failed to influence either the acquisition or retention of the passive avoidance response. In contrast, animals subjected to dorsal and ventral NA bundle lesions and adrenalectomy exhibited severe deficits in both the acquisition and retention of this response, and this effect was of the same magnitude as was observed after posttrial injections of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC, 300 mg/kg). Adrenalectomy by itself had a small but significant effect on retention but did not influence acquisition of the response. The results are discussed with reference to the possibility that interactions between adrenal hormones and central NA mechanisms may serve important roles in learning and memory. However, the data provide no support for the hypothesis that central NA neurons are, by themselves, critically involved in these phenomena.