Apamin improves reference memory but not procedural memory in rats by blocking small conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels in an olfactory discrimination task.
Apamin blocks SK channels responsible for long-lasting hyperpolarization following the action potential. Using an olfactory associative task, the effect of an intracerebroventricular 0.3 ng apamin injection was tested on learning and memory. Apamin did not modify the learning of the procedure side of the task or the learning of the odor-reward association. To test reference memory specifically, the rats were trained on a new odor-association problem using the same procedure (acquisition session), and they were tested for retention 24 h later. Apamin injected before or after the acquisition session improved retention of the valence of a new odor pair. Apamin injected before the retention session did not affect the retrieval of the new valence. Thus, the results indicate that the blockage of apamin-sensitive SK channels facilitate consolidation on new-odor-reward association.
Fournier
C
C
Laboratoire de Neurobiologie des Comportements, UMR 6562, CNRS-Université de Provence, IBHOP, Traverse Susini, 13388 Marseille, Cedex 13, France.
Kourrich
S
S
Soumireu-Mourat
B
B
Mourre
C
C
D000818:Animals; D001030:Apamin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001245:Association Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009042:Motivation; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051640:Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D015221:Potassium Channels; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; D051640:Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D001030:Apamin; D002118:Calcium