title: Acetyl-L-carnitine affects nonassociative learning processes in the leech Hirudo medicinalis.
abstract: Acetyl-L-carnitine is a natural molecule widely distributed in vertebrate and invertebrate nervous system. It is known to have significant effects on neuronal activity playing a role as neuroprotective and anti-nociceptive agent, as well as neuromodulatory factor. About its capability of affecting learning processes the available data are controversial. In the present study, we utilized the simplified model system of the leech Hirudo medicinalis to analyze the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine, assessing whether and how it might affect elementary forms of nonassociative learning processes. In leeches with the head ganglion disconnected from the first segmental ganglion, repetitive application of weak electrical shocks onto the caudal portion of the body wall induces habituation of swim induction whereas brush strokes on the dorsal skin produces sensitization or dishabituation when the nociceptive stimulus is delivered on previously habituated animals. Herein, the effects of different concentrations of acetyl-L-carnitine (2 mM - 0.05 mM) have been tested at different times on both sensitization and dishabituation. The results show that a single treatment of acetyl-L-carnitine blocked the onset of sensitization in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In fact, the most effective concentration able to block this process was 2 mM, which induced its major effects 11 days after the treatment, whereas 0.05 mM was unable to affect the sensitization process at all considered time points. On the contrary, acetyl-L-carnitine did not completely abolish dishabituation at the tested concentrations and at every time point. Finally, acetyl-L-carnitine also impaired the habituation of swim induction, but only 11 days after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, General Physiology Unit, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 31, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ristori
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cataldo
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Zaccardi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Traina
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calvani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scuri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunelli
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D017952:Ganglia, Invertebrate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D047709:Hirudo medicinalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D023421:Models, Animal; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents; D000108:Acetylcarnitine