Strain-dependent effects of D2 dopaminergic and muscarinic-cholinergic agonists and antagonists on memory consolidation processes in mice.
The interaction between muscarinic-cholinergic and dopaminergic systems in the modulation of memory storage of Y-maze discrimination (YMD) task was examined in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 strains of mice. In C57BL/6 mice, post-training systemic (i.p.) administration of the D2-agonist quinpirole facilitated retention and the D2-antagonist (-)-sulpiride impaired retention. Opposite effects were observed in DBA/2 strain. The facilitating or impairing effects of quinpirole and (-)-sulpiride were blocked by simultaneous post-training administration of muscarinic-cholinergic agonists and antagonists. The memory enhancing effects of the cholinergic agonist oxotremorine were not blocked by simultaneous administration of sulpiride in C57BL/6 mice or quinpirole in DBA/2 mice. Furthermore, the memory impairing effects of the cholinergic antagonist atropine were not blocked by simultaneous administration of quinpirole in C57BL/6 mice or sulpiride in DBA/2 mice. These findings indicate that the effects of D2-receptor agonists and antagonists on retention of YMD task are strain-dependent and mediated through muscarinic-cholinergic mechanisms.
Gasbarri
A
A
Department of Science and Biomedical Technology, School of Medicine, University of L'Aquila, Italy. gasbarri@aquila.infn.it
Sulli
A
A
Pacitti
C
C
Puglisi-Allegra
S
S
Cabib
S
S
Castellano
C
C
Introini-Collison
I
I
McGaugh
J L
JL
D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010095:Oxotremorine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019257:Quinpirole / Q000494:pharmacology; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012193:Reversal Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000494:pharmacology
D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D019257:Quinpirole; D010095:Oxotremorine; D001285:Atropine; D013469:Sulpiride