# AGING, MEMORY AND SEPTOHIPPOCAMPAL FUNCTION

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 1991 · $115,127

## Abstract

The long-term objective of this project is to understand the relation
among recent memory, septohippocampal function, and aging.  Normal aging
and age-related neurodegenerative diseases can both produce impairments
of memory.  Understanding the neural mechanisms related to these memory
impairments, and attempting to alleviate them through neural
manipulations, can have a significant impact on the quality of life of
the aged population.  This project has three specific goals. (1)
Determine the extent to which direct microinfusion of substances into
the medial septal area (MSA) of rats can improve mnemonic function in
aged rats with impaired memory, and examine the correlations among
mnemonic improvements, hippocampal electrophysiology as measured by
theta, and cholinergic stimulation as measured by hemicholinium-3 (HC-3)
binding. (2) Determine the extent to which aging changes the sensitivity
of the septohippocampal system to disruption by compounds directly
infused into the MSA, producing shifts of the dose-response curve
relating the dose of these compounds to the magnitude of the memory
impairment. (3) Examine the individual differences in aged populations
with respect to the magnitude of the memory impairment, sensitivity to
MSA infusions, and activity of the cholinergic system as examined by
HC-3 binding.

The experimental design tests rats of 4 different ages in two tasks to
assess recent memory.  Compounds infused into the MSA are designed to
stimulate and inhibit, respectively the cholinergic system (scopolamine,
oxotremorine) and the GABAergic system (picrotoxin, bicuculline,
muscimol).  Theta is recorded from the hippocampus to indicate the
electrophysiological effects of these compounds.  HC-3 is measured to
determine the extent to which cholinergic system is affected.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3121983
- **Project number:** 1R01AG010015-01
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FTMTDMBR29C7
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID S OLTON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $115,127
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1991-08-01 → 1994-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3121983

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3121983, AGING, MEMORY AND SEPTOHIPPOCAMPAL FUNCTION (1R01AG010015-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3121983. Licensed CC0.

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