title: Effect of DSP-4 induced central noradrenergic depletion on tactile learning in rat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is general agreement that norepinephrine could modulate neuronal responses to non-monoaminergic synaptic inputs in the somatosensory cortex. In the present study, we investigated the effect of central norepinephrine depletion on tactile learning  in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Central norepinephrine depletion was induced using 50 mg/kg of N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2 bromobenzylamine (DSP-4) and verified by high performance liquid chromatography. Memory performance was assessed 1 and 5 weeks after DSP-4 treatment using novel object recognition  test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a learning impairment in both DSP-4 groups, as the preference index was not significantly altered when compared to chance level (50%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that depletion of central norepinephrine by DSP-4 leads to impairment of the  tactile learning in rats, which can last at least for 35 days.
authors.affiliation: Kerman Neuroscience Research Centre, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Soodeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajabi
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shamsizadeh
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amini
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shirazi
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allahtavakoli
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbasnejad
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sheibani
mesh_terms: D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001596:Benzylamines / Q000633:toxicity*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D001596:Benzylamines; C012102:DSP 4; D009638:Norepinephrine