The effect of nonspatial water maze pretraining in rats subjected to serotonin depletion and muscarinic receptor antagonism: a detailed behavioural assessment of spatial performance.
A detailed behavioural analysis of water maze spatial performance in the rat was utilized to determine the effect of single and combined administration of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA; 1000 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of serotonin biosynthesis, and scopolamine hydrobromide (SCO; 1.0 mg/kg, i.p.), a muscarinic receptor antagonist. In some groups a water maze pretraining regimen known as non-spatial pretraining (NSP) was used to familiarize the animals with the general requirements of the task before spatial training was begun. The results showed that: (a) depletion of serotonin with PCPA had no effect on water maze performance and produced no sensorimotor disturbances; (b) antagonism of muscarinic receptors produced impairments in spatial and sensorimotor function in naive rats but neither effect was observed in rats first given NSP; (c) combined disruption of muscarinic and serotonergic function produced a severe deficit in spatial performance that was only partially alleviated by NSP; and (d) there was an association between poor maze acquisition scores and a high incidence of sensorimotor dysfunction. In addition to the water maze task the rats were also assessed for motoric performance on a beam walking test. The role of cholinergic and serotonergic systems in learning and memory is discussed.
Beiko
J
J
Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Candusso
L
L
Cain
D P
DP
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009949:Orientation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin