Preventive effect of beta-adrenoceptor blockade on glucocorticoid-induced memory retrieval deficits.
OBJECTIVE
Elevated glucocorticoid levels impair retrieval of emotional information, and animal studies indicate that this effect depends on concurrent emotional arousal-induced increases in noradrenergic transmission within the brain. The authors investigated whether the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol blocks glucocorticoid-induced memory retrieval impairments in human subjects.


METHODS
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 42 healthy volunteers were presented a set of words with variable emotionality and asked to learn them for recall. A day later, cortisone (25 mg), propranolol (40 mg), or both drugs were administered orally 1 hour before a free-recall test.


RESULTS
Cortisone selectively impaired the recall of emotionally arousing words by 42%. This impairment was blocked by the concurrent administration of propranolol. Propranolol alone did not affect recall of either emotional or neutral words.


CONCLUSIONS
A pharmacological blockade of beta-adrenoceptors prevents glucocorticoid-induced memory retrieval deficits in human subjects. This finding may have important implications for the treatment of memory deficits in hypercortisolemic states, such as stress and depression.
de Quervain
Dominique J-F
DJ
Division of Psychiatry Research and the Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zürich, Lenggstr. 31, 8032 Zürich, Switzerland. quervain@bli.unizh.ch
Aerni
Amanda
A
Roozendaal
Benno
B
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003348:Cortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010919:Placebos; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000187:drug effects
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D010919:Placebos; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D011433:Propranolol; D003348:Cortisone