Muscarinic transmission in the basolateral amygdala is necessary for the acquisition of socially transmitted food preferences in rats

We examined the involvement of muscarinic receptors in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in the social transmission of food preference (STFP) learning by assessing the effects of scopolamine (20 mu g/side), injected prior to social training, on a 24-h food-choice test. Muscarinic receptor blockade in the BLA significantly impaired SUP, as shown by the rats' chance preference for the odorized trained food. The present results are consistent with the suggestion that intact cholinergic transmission in the BLA is necessary for acquisition and/or initial consolidation and provide evidence that BLA integrity is part of the underlying circuit of STEP learning. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.