Administration of donepezil does not rescue galanin-induced spatial learning deficits.
The neuropeptide galanin inhibits the evoked release of several neurotransmitters including acetylcholine and modulates adenylate cyclase (AC) activity. Galanin has also been established to impair various forms of learning and memory in rodents. However, whether galanin produces learning deficits by inhibiting cholinergic activity or decreasing AC function has not been clearly established. The current study investigated if donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor utilized in Alzheimer's disease, could rescue galanin-induced Morris water task deficits in rats. The results demonstrated that donepezil did not alter the previously established deficits induced by galanin. These findings suggest that galanin-mediated spatial learning deficits may be unrelated to its modulation of the cholinergic system.
Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Nevada , Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154, USA. sabbaghj@unlv.nevada.edu
Jonathan J
JJ
Sabbagh
Chelcie F
CF
Heaney
Monica M
MM
Bolton
Andrew S
AS
Murtishaw
Jennifer A
JA
Ure
Jefferson W
JW
Kinney
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000077265:Donepezil; D019004:Galanin / Q000633:toxicity*; D007189:Indans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects*
D007189:Indans; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D019004:Galanin; D000077265:Donepezil