title: Benzodiazepines alter acquisition and retention of an inhibitory avoidance response in mice.
abstract: These experiments were performed to examine the effects of graded doses of diazepam, flurazepam, or lorazepam given to Swiss-Webster mice either 30 min prior to training or immediately after training in a one-trial inhibitory (passive) avoidance task. A 350 MUA footshock was administered following entry into a darkened compartment and retention was tested three days later. Doses of 10.0 mg/kg diazepam and 20.0 mg/kg lorazepam given before training significantly impaired acquisition, while 1.0 mg/kg flurazepam, given immediately after training, produced retrograde amnesia. These results indicate that benzodiazepines affect memory processes and that various drugs of the benzodiazepine family differentially affect acquisition and memory consolidation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D005479:Flurazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D005479:Flurazepam; D008140:Lorazepam; D003975:Diazepam