title: Cortistatin modulates memory evocation in rats.
abstract: The neurochemical control of learning depends on several neurotransmitters, hormones, and neuropeptides. Cortistatin is a neuropeptide with sleep-modulating properties that regulates memory consolidation and evocation. Several reports have suggested that learning processes are expressed under diurnal variations; therefore, it seems that the efficiency to solve learning tasks is related to the arousal state. Although we know that cortistatin modulates learning, we do not know whether its effect is subjected to diurnal variations. Hence, we evaluated memory evocation and the sleep-waking cycle along the day. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of cortistatin on motor control and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentration. Performance of rats was better at 01:00 h than at 13:00 h to solve the Barnes maze. Cortistatin impaired memory evocation, increased rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, and decreased wakefulness at 01:00 h, whereas increasing it at 13:00 h. Cortistatin blunts cAMP concentration and impairs motor control at 13:00 h. These results support further a cortistatin modulatory role in the memory process.
authors.affiliation: Depto. de Fisiología, Fac. de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Apdo. Postal 70-250, México, D.F. 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Méndez-Díaz
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez-Chavarín
authors.forename: Anabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Anguiano
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cabeza
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Murillo-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Prospéro-García
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; C099323:cortistatin