Intra-amygdala spermidine administration improves inhibitory avoidance performance in rats.
In the present study, we investigated the effect of immediate post-training bilateral infusion of spermidine, a polyamine agonist, into the amygdala on inhibitory avoidance learning of rats. Bilateral microinjection of spermidine (0.02--20 nmol) caused an increase in test step-down latencies at high concentrations. Administration of arcaine (0.002--0.2 nmol), an antagonist of the NMDA receptor polyamine binding site, decreased test step-down latencies. On the other hand, co-administration of arcaine and spermidine completely reversed the spermidine-induced increase of test step-down latencies. These results provide evidence that polyamines may be involved in learning and memory modulation in the amygdala.
Rubin
M A
MA
Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. marubin@quimica.ufsm.br
Stiegemeier
J A
JA
Volkweis
M A
MA
Oliveira
D M
DM
Fenili
A C
AC
Boemo
R L
RL
Jurach
A
A
Mello
C F
CF
D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001645:Biguanides / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013095:Spermidine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001645:Biguanides; C006624:arcaine; D013095:Spermidine