Infusion of neurosteroids into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis affects cognitive processes in the rat.
The neurosteroids, pregnenolone sulfate (PREG-S) and tetrahydroprogesterone (TH-PROG), act on the GABAA receptor with antagonist or agonist-like properties, respectively. In this study the effect of the infusion of PREG-S and TH-PROG into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) of the rat was examined in a two-trial memory task. The results show that PREG-S (5 ng in 0.5 microliter) enhances memory performance when injected after an acquisition trial; conversely TH-PROG (2 ng in 0.5 microliter) disrupts performance when injected before an acquisition trial. A role for neurosteroids in memory processes subserved by the nucleus basalis magnocellularis is of interest in view of the implication of this structure and these substances in neurodegenerative processes.
Laboratoire de Psychobiologie des Comportements Adaptatifs, INSERM Unité 259, Université de Bordeaux II, France.
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W
Mayo
F
F
Dellu
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P
Robel
J
J
Cherkaoui
M
M
Le Moal
E E
EE
Baulieu
H
H
Simon
D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D011280:Pregnanolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology*
D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D013256:Steroids; D011284:Pregnenolone; D011280:Pregnanolone