title: Acute pentobarbital treatment impairs spatial learning and memory and hippocampal long-term potentiation in rats.
abstract: Reports of the effects of pentobarbital on learning and memory are contradictory. Some studies have not shown any interference with learning and memory, whereas others have shown that pentobarbital impairs memory and that these impairments can last for long periods. However, it is unclear whether acute local microinjections of pentobarbital affect learning and memory, and if so, the potential mechanisms are also unclear. Here, we reported that the intra-hippocampal infusion of pentobarbital (8.0mM, 1μl per side) significantly impaired hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory retrieval. Moreover, in vitro electrophysiological recordings revealed that these behavioral changes were accompanied by impaired hippocampal CA1 long-term potentiation (LTP) and suppressed neuronal excitability as reflected by a decrease in the number of action potentials (APs). These results suggest that acute pentobarbital application causes spatial learning and memory deficits that might be attributable to the suppression of synaptic plasticity and neuronal excitability.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China.
authors.forename: Man
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenting
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhifang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China. Electronic address: huili_chcmu@163.com.
authors.forename: Huili
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D001703:Biophysics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000633:toxicity*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced*; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D065853:Spatial Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010424:Pentobarbital; D001640:Bicuculline
keywords: Action potential; Hippocampus; Long-term potentiation; Pentobarbital; Spatial learning and memory