Journal article
Combined administration of subthreshold doses of the nitric oxide inhibitor, nitro-L-arginine, and muscarinic receptor antagonist, scopolamine, impairs complex maze learning in rats
Behavioural pharmacology, Vol.18(8), pp.801-805
12/2007
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/114200
PMID: 17989518
Abstract
Traditionally, research into the neurobiological mechanisms of age-related memory impairments has focused on single neurotransmitter systems. As normal and abnormal age-related declines in memory function probably involve alterations in more than one system, a more effective approach for elucidating underlying neurobiological changes and resulting impairments may be to evaluate the roles of multiple systems simultaneously. This study evaluated the interaction of the cholinergic and nitric oxide systems in rats on acquisition in the 14-unit T-maze. This task requires learning a series of turns to avoid foot shock, and most likely reflects procedural learning. Administration of scopolamine (0.1 mg/kg) or N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (30 mg/kg) alone did not impair acquisition, whereas administration of the same doses in combination increased both the latency to complete the maze and number of errors committed. These data suggest that manipulation of learning and memory processes with multiple compounds potentially offers a clinically relevant paradigm for investigating cognitive function in normal and abnormal aging.
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Details
- Title
- Combined administration of subthreshold doses of the nitric oxide inhibitor, nitro-L-arginine, and muscarinic receptor antagonist, scopolamine, impairs complex maze learning in rats
- Creators
- Paul J Pistell - Behavioral Neuroscience Section, Laboratory of Experimental Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Gerontology Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Paul.Pistell@pbrc.eduLee W Daffin, JrChristopher M NelsonKara B DuffyJonna L BowkerEdward L SpanglerDonald K IngramBryan D Devan
- Publication Details
- Behavioural pharmacology, Vol.18(8), pp.801-805
- Publisher
- England
- Grant note
- Intramural NIH HHS
- Identifiers
- 99900548257701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article