Phencyclidine affects memory in a nitric oxide-dependent manner: working and reference memory.
Phencyclidine (PCP), a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, was used to model schizophrenia-like cognitive dysfunctions of learning and memory in rats using the Morris water maze model for spatial memory. A protocol introduced by Baldi and co-workers was used to distinguish working memory from reference memory. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered PCP (2.0 mg/kg) before the first swimming trial on each of five spatial memory acquisition days, either alone or after pre-treatment with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, L-NAME (10 mg/kg). Probe tests for memory were conducted before and after each acquisition session. The results showed that PCP disrupted the acquisition of both working and reference memory. Pre-treatment with L-NAME reversed both these effects of PCP. L-NAME treatment by itself did not significantly alter either acquisition or retention of spatial memory.
Wass
Caroline
C
Department of Pharmacology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, POB 431, SE 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden.
Archer
Trevor
T
Pålsson
Erik
E
Fejgin
Kim
K
Alexandersson
Asa
A
Klamer
Daniel
D
Engel
Jörgen A
JA
Svensson
Lennart
L
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D010622:Phencyclidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D013550:Swimming
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D010622:Phencyclidine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester