title: Effects of verapamil on electroconvulsive shock- and clonidine-induced amnesia.
abstract: The effect of the Ca2+ blocker verapamil on amnesia induced by electroconvulsive shock (ECS) or by the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine was studied in male Wistar rats trained in passive avoidance task ("step down"). Clonidine (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) and ECS induced a pronounced amnesia, significantly reducing the percentage of rats that had acquired the task upon retention tests, given 3 h, 24 h and 7 days after training. Verapamil (10 mg/kg) administered orally for 12 days (5 days before and 7 days after training) completely abolished the ECS- or clonidine-induced amnesia. These data suggest that calcium channel blocker verapamil has a protective effect against experimentally provoked memory deficit and might be useful for the treatment of cognitive disorders.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bojanova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Genkova-Papazova
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petkova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazarova-Bakarova
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000647:Amnesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003000:Clonidine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004597:Electroshock / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014700:Verapamil; D003000:Clonidine