The effects of cytotoxic perirhinal cortex lesions on spatial learning by rats: a comparison of the dark agouti and Sprague-Dawley strains.

The effects of perirhinal cortex lesions in rats on spatial memory might depend on the choice of strain. The present study, therefore, compared perirhinal lesions in Sprague-Dawley rats (associated with deficits) with Dark Agouti rats (associated with null effects). Tests of reference memory and working memory in the water maze failed to provide evidence that perirhinal lesions disrupt overall levels of performance (irrespective of strain) or that these lesions have differential effects on the rates of spatial learning in these 2 strains. Strain differences were, however, found, as the Dark Agouti strain was often superior. Furthermore, the perirhinal lesions did have differential effects in the 2 strains, but these did not appear to relate directly to changes in spatial learning.