Reduction of ECS-induced retrograde amnesia of passive avoidance conditioning after 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine median raphe nucleus lesion in the rat.

5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT), median raphe nucleus (MRN)-lesioned and sham-lesioned rats were submitted to one-trial passive avoidance conditioning followed by electroconvulsive shock (ECS) or sham-ECS. On test session (24 h later) MRN-lesioned rats presented a longer conditioned response and, chiefly, a remarkable reduction of ECS-induced retrograde amnesia in comparison to sham-lesioned animals. This effect appeared unrelated to major changes in spontaneous behavior: on training session MRN-lesioned rats exhibited a faster stepping-down from the platform; their exploratory activity into a novel cage was characterized by a slightly higher initial response; moreover MRN lesion did not significantly effect pain threshold. A reduced brain 5-HT functional activity following MRN lesion was suggested by the study of the hyperactivity syndrome induced by tranylcypromine plus L-tryptophan. Lastly, MRN-lesioned rats showed a significantly lower brain 5-HT steady level without differing from the sham-lesioned ones with respect to turnover rate. The reduction of ECS-induced retrograde amnesia observed in 5,7-DHT, MRN-lesioned rats was considered as due to a lower synaptic availability of 5-HT at the time of ECS administration.