title: [Effects of ketamine and alcohol on learning and memory impairment in mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of ketamine and alcohol on learning and memory in mice and its possible mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty mice were divided into 4 groups: normal control group, ketamine group, alcohol group, and alcohol plus ketamine group. Ketamine and alcohol were given by intraperitoneal injection and intragastric administration, respectively, 1 time per day, for 14 days. The ability of learning and memory in mice was tested by the method of step-down and Morris water maze. Acetylcholine (ACh) and 5-hydroxy tryptamine(5-HT) in mice brain tissue were analyzed for the possible mechanism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Step-down: The treatment groups lessened the latency and added wrong times (P < 0.05). The number of errors in the combined treatment group significantly increased comparing with the single drug treatment group (P < 0.05). (2) Morris water-maze: The treatment groups prolonged the latency (P < 0.05), reduced the target quadrant activity time significantly (P < 0.05), and decreased the numbers of crossing the former platform significantly (P < 0.05). (3) Biochemical index determination: The concentrations of ACh and 5-HT in treatment groups decreased significantly (P < 0.05), showed a more decreasement comparing with the single drug treatment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ketamine has a synergistic effect with alcohol on learning and memory impairment in mice, which may be related to the common inhibitive effect on the ACh and 5-HT.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Science of Soochow University, Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China. meiyu0307@163.com
authors.forename: Mei-Yu
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Xiao-Gang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xie-Xing
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhen-Lun
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Ci-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Shi-Zhong
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Bian
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000438:Alcohols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; 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; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D012701:Serotonin; D007649:Ketamine; D000109:Acetylcholine