title: Effects of agonists and antagonists of some serotonin-receptor subtypes on memory and their modulation by the 5-HT-uptake inhibitor fluoxetine.
abstract: The memory effects of agonists and antagonists of some serotonin (5-HT)-receptor subtypes were studied in experiments on rats using the method for passive avoidance with punishment reinforcement (step-down). The 5-HT1A-receptor agonist buspirone (1 mg/kg i.p.) elicited behavioural responses which suggested the lack of pronounced effect on learning and retention; the 5-HT1A-receptor antagonists NAN-190 (1 mg/kg i.p.) and pindolol (6 mg/kg i.p.) impaired retention tested 24 hours and 7 days after training as compared to controls. The 5-HT2-receptor antagonist ritanserin (1 mg/kg i.p.) impaired retention tested 24 hours and 7 days after training as compared to controls, while the 5-HT3-receptor antagonist ondansetron (0.1 mg/kg i.p.) improved it. The 5-HT1/5-HT2-receptor antagonist dotarizine (50 mg/kg orally), characterized by a calcium-antagonistic action, too, exerted some facilitating effect on learning. Most of the effects of the 5-HT-receptor agonists and antagonists were changed when the 5-HT concentration in the synaptic region was increased by the 5-HT-uptake inhibitor fluoxetine (20 mg/kg orally). The results suggest different participation of 5-HT1A-, 5-HT2- and 5-HT3-receptors in the mechanisms of memory process and its modulation by the serotonin level in the cerebral serotonergic synapses.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia.
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Petkov
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kehayov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D011678:Punishment; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D005473:Fluoxetine