Intrathecal administration of neurokinin 1 and neurokinin 2 receptor antagonists undermines the savings effect in spinal rats seen in an instrumental learning paradigm.
Research has demonstrated that the isolated spinal cord is capable of modifying its behavior in response to changes in environmental stimuli. Previous studies have shown that rats with complete thoracic spinal transections can learn to maintain a flexion response when shock delivery is paired with leg position. The current experiments examined whether neurokinin (NK) 1 and 2 receptors are involved in the acquisition and retention of this prolonged flexion response. Results demonstrated that L-703,606 (NK1 antagonist) facilitated response acquisition, whereas MEN-10,376 (NK2 antagonist) hindered acquisition. Furthermore, pretraining administration of either antagonist undermined subjects' ability to reacquire the prolonged flexion response during testing. These results demonstrate the importance of NK receptors in spinally mediated behavioral plasticity.
Baumbauer
Kyle M
KM
Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. baumbauer@tamu.edu
Young
Erin E
EE
Hoy
Kevin C
KC
Joynes
Robin L
RL
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007278:Injections, Spinal / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D015288:Neurokinin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011812:Quinuclidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018041:Receptors, Neurokinin-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*
D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011812:Quinuclidines; D018041:Receptors, Neurokinin-2; C069192:neurokinin A(4-10), Tyr(5)-Trp(6,8,9)-Lys(10)-; C076851:L 703606; D015288:Neurokinin A