8-OH-DPAT impairs spatial but not visual learning in a water maze by stimulating 5-HT1A receptors in the hippocampus.
The effect of 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), a 5-HT1A receptor agonist, on spatial and non-spatial learning in a water maze was studied using two tasks of equal difficulty, with the same motor, motivational and reinforcement demands. Rats were examined for choice accuracy in a two-platform spatial discrimination task. Rats treated subcutaneously with 100 micrograms/kg 8-OH-DPAT were impaired in choice accuracy with no effect on latency. Treated rats made more errors of omission than controls only on days 1 and 2 of training. Infusion of 1 microgram/microliter spiroxatrine (SPX) or 5 micrograms/microliters of (+)WAY100135, two potent 5-HT1A receptor antagonists, in the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus antagonized the impairment in choice accuracy caused by 8-OH-DPAT. The effect on errors of omission on days 1 and 2 of training were not significantly modified by spiroxatrine or (+)WAY100135. Rats treated with 8-OH-DPAT were not impaired in their ability to learn a visual discrimination in a water maze. The results suggest that stimulation of 5-HT1A receptors in the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus impairs spatial but not visual discrimination in rats.
Carli
M
M
Istituto di Richerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy.
Luschi
R
R
Garofalo
P
P
Samanin
R
R
D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D051381:Rats; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin