Behavioral effects of apamin, a selective inhibitor of the SK(Ca)-channel, in mice and rats.
Apamin, a highly selective and potent peptide that blocks the SK(Ca)-channels has been suggested to be a cognition enhancer. We tested apamin in the Morris water escape task, in shock motivated avoidance tasks, and in operant tasks in the Skinnerbox. We also used non-cognitive tests, such as the rat forced swimming test and cocaine-induced locomotor activity in the open field, and a test to assess the side effect profile. Mice and rats from different strains, and rats of different ages were used. The rat studies provided only weak support for the notion that apamin acts as a cognition enhancer. More convincing evidence was obtained from the mouse studies. Overt side effects of apamin were found at the dose of 0.3 mg kg(-1). This dose was close to, or even overlapped, the doses which improved cognition in mice. We conclude that apamin is a poor tool to assess the role of SK(Ca)-channels in learning and memory processes.
van der Staay
F J
FJ
CNS Research, Bayer AG, Wuppertal, Germany. franz-josef.staay.fs1@bayer-ag.de
Fanelli
R J
RJ
Blokland
A
A
Schmidt
B H
BH
D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D001030:Apamin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; C059983:potassium channel protein I(sk); D001030:Apamin