Y-maze learning in two strains of mice. Effects of instrumental and pharmacologic sleep deprivation]

Effects of instrumental and pharmacological deprivation of sleep on Y-maze learning have been studied in two inbred strains of mice (C57BR/cd/Orl and C57BL/6/Orl), having identical sleep rhythms, but mainly differing in their ability to learn. Administration of alpha-methyl-DOPA (100 mg/kg) provokes complete suppression of paradoxical sleep (PS) for 9-11 h. Injection immediately after each training session over the first 5 days caused a delay in acquisition of an active avoidance task in C57BR mice. Treated C57BL/6 mice exhibited a significant facilitation of acquisition. Similar results were obtained by instrumental deprivation of sleep for 10 h.