Selective effects of monoclonal antibodies against nervous growth-associated protein A3G7 on central mechanisms of different types of defensive behavior

The behavioral effects were studied of monoclonal antibodies (MA) against A3G7 protein, which is known to be assoiciated with the processes of nervous cell differentiation. Elaboration, storage, and retention of acoustic startle (ASR) habituation and freezing behavior were tested in adult rats. The MA applied in a dose of 50 ng on cerebellar vermis selectively impaired only the ASR long-term habituation storage whereas its dose of 5 meg impaired both long-term habituation storage and fear-conditioned freezing. Application of 10 mcg of MA disrupted the elaboration and storage of the ASR short- and long-term habituation as well as fear-conditioned freezing. The results are considered as experimental verification of systemogenesis theory and hypothesis about a common molecular basis of learning and development.