Inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase-extracellular signal-regulated kinase disrupts latent inhibition of cued fear conditioning in C57BL/6 mice.
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade has been implicated in a variety of associative conditioning tasks. However, the role of the MAPK-ERK cascades in modulating conditioning is less clear. The authors examined the effect of the potent and selective MAPK-ERK inhibitor SL327 on latent inhibition of cued fear conditioning. The results demonstrate that 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg SL327 disrupt latent inhibition of cued fear conditioning. These data provide evidence for an essential role of the MAPK-ERK cascade in tasks that modulate the strength of associative conditioning. The results are discussed in relation to the molecular mechanisms that support latent inhibition of cued fear conditioning.
Lewis
Michael C
MC
Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
Davis
Jennifer A
JA
Gould
Thomas J
TJ
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000607:Aminoacetonitrile / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000818:Animals; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005239:Fear; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
D011480:Protease Inhibitors; C424127:SL 327; D000607:Aminoacetonitrile; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases