title: Effects of MK-801 and ketamine on short-term memory deficits in passive avoidance step-down task paradigm in mice.
abstract: The phenomenon of long-term potentiation (LTP) formation in hippocampal and neocortical brain areas has been suggested as a mechanism for learning and memory where NMDA-receptors play a significant role. Various agonists have been proposed to facilitate LTP and thereby learning and memory. Competitive and non-competitive antagonists of NMDA-receptors block LTP formation and produce attentional or acquisition deficit in animals. A series of experiments were carried out with noncompetitive NMDA antagonists, MK-801 (10-100 micrograms/kg) and ketamine (1-10 mg/kg), in passive avoidance step-down task paradigm in mice. MK-801 showed complete disruption of acquisition at higher doses, while very low doses showed improvement in retention. MK-801 showed additive or potentiating influence on scopolamine-induced deficits. The results of the interaction of NMDA antagonists with scopolamine provide a basis for the speculation that cholinergic- and NMDA-antagonism may play a hand in hand role in short-term memory disturbances in passive avoidance step-down task paradigm in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007649:Ketamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D010830:Physostigmine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D007649:Ketamine; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D010830:Physostigmine; D012601:Scopolamine