Neonatal administration of vasopressin antiserum induces long-term deficits on active and passive avoidance behaviour in rats.

Two-day-old male rats received a subcutaneous injection of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) antiserum and avoidance behaviour was studied 3 months later. Rats treated with the antiserum showed a clear retention deficit in a one-trial learning, step-through passive avoidance situation. Anti-AVP treatment also induced an impairment on the acquisition of a two-way active avoidance task. Systolic blood pressure was lower than normal in these animals. The results obtained appear to be indicative of the high vulnerability of the developing nervous system, and are discussed in the context of the different hypothesis on the role of central or peripheral mechanisms in the behavioural effects of AVP. Although no definite conclusions may be drawn in this regard, the present data strongly suggest that neonatal administration of AVP antiserum exerts long-lasting effects upon the functionality of several physiological mechanisms related to the behavioural adaptation of the organism.