Effects of vasopressin on the brain lipid metabolism during learning and retention of conditioned avoidance behaviour.

Intracerebral vasopressin pretreatment impairs acquisition and consolidation, but delays extinction of conditioned avoidance behaviour. The latter effect of the peptide is associated with a pronounced suppression of the incorporation of labelled precursor in total lipids of the hippocampus. Results suggest that memory-improving effects of vasopressin are probably related to alterations of the brain lipid metabolism.