title: The role of cortical cholinergic pre- and post-synaptic receptors in taste memory formation.
abstract: A number of studies have implicated cholinergic activity in the mediation of learning and memory processes. However, the specific role of muscarinic receptors in memory formation mechanisms is less known. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of muscarinic antagonist M2 presynaptic receptor, AFDX-116 (0.5mM) and M1 and M3 post-synaptic receptor pirenzepine (100mM), as well as a non-selective muscarinic antagonist, scopolamine (136mM), in the insular cortex (IC) during acquisition and retrieval of conditioned taste aversion (CTA). In addition, we evaluate the effects of those antagonists in cortical ACh release by in vivo microdialysis and the effects on the induction of in vivo LTP in the BLA-IC projection. The results showed that the cortical microinjections of scopolamine and pirenzepine, but not AFDX-116, produced significant disruption in the acquisition of CTA, without effects during retrieval. Microinjections of scopolamine and AFDX-116 produced significant cortical ACh release, while infusions of pirenzepine did not produce any release. Application of scopolamine and pirenzepine diminished induction of LTP in the BLA-IC projection, but not AFDX-116, as compared with vehicle. The induction of BLA-CI LTP seems to be modulated by post-synaptic muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and not by pre-synaptic muscarinic receptors. These results suggest a differential involvement of cholinergic receptors during acquisition and retrieval of aversive memory formation, as well as a differential role of muscarinic receptors in the biochemical and electrophysiological processes that may underlay aversive memory.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 04510 Mexico D.F., Mexico.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Lugo
authors.forename: María Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Martha Lilia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bermúdez-Rattoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017551:Microdialysis; D008845:Microinjections; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017661:Receptors, Presynaptic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D017661:Receptors, Presynaptic; D010890:Pirenzepine; D012601:Scopolamine; C048593:otenzepad