title: Effects of activation and blockade of NMDA receptors on the extinction of a conditioned passive avoidance response in mice with different levels of anxiety.
abstract: The effects of an agonist (D-cycloserine) and an antagonist (dizocilpine) of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors on the learning and extinction of a conditioned passive avoidance response were studied in mice with low, intermediate, and high levels of anxiety. In intermediate-anxiety mice, D-cycloserine (30 mg/kg) had no effect on learning but accelerated extinction, while dizocilpine (0.15 mg/kg) degraded acquisition of the reflex but delayed extinction. In high-anxiety mice, with good learning and no extinction, D-cycloserine had no effect, while dizocilpine decreased learning and facilitated retention of performance of the memory trace at the ongoing level in conditions promoting extinction. In low-anxiety mice, D-cycloserine degraded learning and accelerated extinction, while dizocilpine completely blocked learning and the retention of the passive avoidance response.
authors.affiliation: State Research Institute of Physiology, Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, 4 Timakov Street, 630117 Novosibirsk, Russia.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Tomilenko
authors.forename: N I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Dubrovina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000494:pharmacology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003523:Cycloserine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D003523:Cycloserine