Spatial memory deficits induced by systemic lipopolysaccharide administration

Abstract

Stimulation of the immune system has been found to enhance, impair, or have no effect on various learning and memory tasks. The effects of systemic endotoxin treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 250 μg/kg in saline) were examined. Rats given LPS display spatial memory deficits in Y-maze and radial arm-maze tasks. Taken together, these results indicate that LPS treatment specifically impaired spatial learning performances in rats