Effect of Intraventricular Injection of Anti-brain Antibody on Defensive Conditioned Reflexes

Abstract

IT has been suggested that intraneuronal storage of information is based on the production of specific proteins following changes in RNA base composition, so that the neurones of an experienced animal differ biochemically from the neurones of a naïve one^1–3. It can therefore be assumed that the molecular and biological properties of RNA and proteins make them probable substrates for intraneuronal storage of information. On the other hand, it has been shown that the in vivo interaction between anti-brain antibodies and brain antigens results in a series of electrical and behavioural changes^4–6. Because of its specificity an antibody reacts differentially with cells and subcellular constituents, and with molecules which are otherwise indistinguishable by physical and chemical methods. These properties of antibodies make possible the functional dissection of the nervous system. Thus we have investigated the relationship between brain proteins and learning processes using immuno-neurophysiological techniques. We report here the in vivo effect of anti-brain protein antibodies on defensive conditioned reflexes in the cat.