Effect of angiotensin II on passive avoidance performance after bilateral lesion of the nucleus accumbens septi.

The experiments performed earlier in this Department indicated that facilitatory effect of angiotensin II (AII) on recall is connected with its influence on dopaminergic systems. In an attempt to evaluate the possible site of action of AII on the memory processes, bilateral lesion of the nucleus accumbens septi (NAS, a limbic structure which receives projection from A 10 dopaminergic neurons) was made before behavioral testing of the influence of icv injection of AII on recall in passive avoidance situation. Unexpectedly, bilateral lesion of the NAS improved the recall itself. In such a situation any facilitatory action of AII on recall in this test could not be shown.