title: Involvement of dorsal hippocampal alpha-adrenergic receptors in the effect of scopolamine on memory retrieval in inhibitory avoidance task.
abstract: The present study evaluated the possible role of alpha-adrenergic receptors of the dorsal hippocampus on scopolamine-induced amnesia and scopolamine state-dependent memory in adult male Wistar rats. The animals were bilaterally implanted with chronic cannulae in the CA1 regions of the dorsal hippocampus, trained in a step-through type inhibitory avoidance task, and tested 24h after training to measure step-through latency. Results indicate that post-training or pre-test intra-CA1 administration of scopolamine (1 and 2 microg/rat) dose-dependently reduced the step-through latency, showing an amnestic response. Amnesia produced by post-training scopolamine (2 microg/rat) was reversed by pre-test administration of the scopolamine that is due to a state-dependent effect. Interestingly, pre-test intra-CA1 microinjection of alpha1-adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine (1 and 2 microg/rat) or alpha2-adrenergic agonist, clonidine improved post-training scopolamine (2 microg/rat)-induced retrieval impairment. Furthermore, pre-test intra-CA1 microinjection of phenylephrine (0.25, 0.5 and 1 microg/rat) or clonidine (0.25, 0.5 and 1 microg/rat) with an ineffective dose of scopolamine (0.25 microg/rat), synergistically improved memory performance impaired by post-training scopolamine. On the other hand, pre-test injection of alpha1-receptors antagonist prazosin (1 and 2 microg/rat) or alpha2-receptors antagonist yohimbine (1 and 2 microg/rat) prevented the restoration of memory by pre-test scopolamine. It is important to note that pre-test intra-CA1 administration of the same doses of prazosin or yohimbine, alone did not affect memory retrieval. These results suggest that alpha1- and alpha2-adrenergic receptors of the dorsal hippocampal CA1 regions may play an important role in scopolamine-induced amnesia and scopolamine state-dependent memory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Sciences and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin-Sadat
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Azami
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piri
authors.forename: Shahrbano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oryan
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jahanshahi
authors.forename: Vahab
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Babapour
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zarrindast
mesh_terms: D058646:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Agonists; D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D058669:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D058646:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Agonists; D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D058669:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D012601:Scopolamine