D-Cycloserine enhances spatial memory in spontaneous place recognition in rats.
The effects of D-cycloserine (DCS), an exogenous partial agonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-associated glycine site, on spatial memory were investigated using spontaneous place recognition (SPR) test. In SPR test, rats were allowed to explore an arena where two identical objects were presented for 5 min (sample phase), and after a delay of 24 h they were placed again in the same arena but one of the two objects was moved to a novel place (test phase, 4 min). Systemic administration of DCS before the sample phase, immediately after the sample phase, and before the test phase caused rats' significant preference for the object in a novel place in the test phase, although in this condition rats without DCS treatment did not show any preference. DCS affected neither total object exploration time nor locomotor activity in the arena during testing. Results suggest the possibility that DCS can facilitate various processes of spatial memory including encoding, consolidation and retrieval, and that NMDA receptors play an important role in these memory processes.
Institute of Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
Takaaki
T
Ozawa
Minae
M
Kumeji
Kazuo
K
Yamada
Yukio
Y
Ichitani
D000818:Animals; D003523:Cycloserine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D003523:Cycloserine