title: Behavioral differences on memory retrieval between two variants of step-through inhibitory avoidance task in mice.
abstract: For several decades, one-trial inhibitory avoidance (IA) tasks have been used in the study of memory processing. In the present work, the effects of diazepam (DZP) (0.5mg/kg) and picrotoxin (PIC) (0.3mg/kg) on memory retrieval were assessed using two variants of a step-through IA situation in CF-1 mice. In the first variant, animals get into a dark compartment from an open illuminated platform (platform), whereas in the other, from an enclosed illuminated one (box). PIC impaired retention performance in the "platform-type" IA, but not in the "box-type". DZP enhanced retention performance in both types of IA task. These results evidence critical differences between the two step-through inhibitory avoidance tasks used, that might be relevant not only for retention performance during memory retrieval, but also for the theoretical interpretations and conclusions obtained from behavioral results.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología de los Procesos de Memoria, Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. blakion@fmed.uba.ar
authors.forename: Mariano G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: Mariano M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Boccia
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Baratti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004597:Electroshock / Q000009:adverse effects; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D003975:Diazepam; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D010852:Picrotoxin