Acquisition of a brief behavioural experience in the rat is inhibited by the brain-specific monoclonal antibody, F3-87-8.

Intraventricular infusion of the brain-specific monoclonal antibody F3-87-8 is demonstrated to inhibit the acquisition of a passive-avoidance paradigm in a rat model. Antibody was infused prior to, and following, training of a step-down task and recall was assessed after 24 and 48 h. The antibody only inhibited recall when infused prior to training and no effect was seen when administered 6 h after acquisition of the task. No effect was found with absorbed antibody or in sham-operated animals and open field studies showed no alterations in locomotor activity. Results are discussed considering available information on the antigen and current memory/learning theories.