A nicotinic cholinergic agonist (GTS-21) and eyeblink classical conditioning: acquisition, retention, and relearning in older rabbits.
Previously we demonstrated that GTS-21, a nicotinic cholinergic agonist, ameliorated eyeblink classical conditioning deficits in older rabbits. The present experiment was undertaken to replicate and extend these results by examining the effects of GTS-21 on retention and relearning. Retired breeder rabbits received 15 daily injections of 0.5 mg/kg GTS 21 (n = 8) or sterile saline vehicle (n = 8) during acquisition training, and no further injections occurred. Acquisition of conditioned responses (CRs) was significantly better in GTS-21-treated rabbits. During the first tone-alone retention session in week 6 of the experiment, rabbits initially treated with GTS-21 produced significantly more CRs than vehicle-treated rabbits. There were no group differences in retention at the 13-week retest. Differences in relearning were in the predicted direction but did not attain statistical significance. Results indicate that treatment with GTS-21 ameliorates learning beyond the period when the drug is actually administered.
Woodruff-Pak
D S
DS
Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. pak@astro.temple.edu
Green
J T
JT
Coleman-Valencia
C
C
Pak
J T
JT
D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D001597:Benzylidene Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001767:Blinking / Q000187:drug effects*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits
D001597:Benzylidene Compounds; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011725:Pyridines; C088936:3-(2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)anabaseine