title: Effects of beta-adrenergic antagonist, propranolol on spatial memory and exploratory behavior in mice.
abstract: The beta-adrenergic system has been suggested to be involved in novelty detection and memory modulation. The present study aimed to investigate the role of beta-adrenergic receptors on novelty-based spatial recognition memory and exploratory behavior in mice using Y-maze test and open-field respectively. Mice were injected with three doses of beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, propranolol (2, 10 and 20 mg/kg) or saline at three different time points (15 min prior to training, immediately after training and 15 min before test). The results showed that higher doses of propranolol (10 and 20 mg/kg) given before the training trial impaired spatial recognition memory while those injected at other two time points did not. A detailed analysis of exploratory behavior in open-field showed that lower dose (2 mg/kg) of propranolol reduced exploratory behavior of mice. Our findings indicate that higher dose of propranolol can impair acquisition of spatial information in the Y-maze without altering locomotion, suggesting that the beta-adrenergic system may be involved in modulating memory processes at the time of learning.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, #32 Jiao Chang Dong Lu,Yunnan, PR China.
authors.forename: Huaying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Jianhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuanye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D011433:Propranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D011897:Random Allocation; D013037:Spatial Behavior
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011433:Propranolol