title: Harmaline-induced amnesia: Possible role of the amygdala dopaminergic system.
abstract: In this study, we examined the effect of bilateral intra-basolateral amygdala (intra-BLA) microinjections of dopamine receptor agents on amnesia induced by a β-carboline alkaloid, harmaline in mice. We used a step-down method to assess memory and then, hole-board method to assess exploratory behaviors. The results showed that pre-training intra-BLA injections of dopamine D1 receptor antagonist and agonist (SCH23390 (0.5μg/mouse) and SKF38393 (0.5μg/mouse), respectively) impaired memory acquisition. In contrast, pre-training intra-BLA injections of dopamine D2 receptor antagonist and agonist (sulpiride and quinpirole, respectively) have no significant effect on memory acquisition. Pre-training intra-peritoneal (i.p.) injection of harmaline (1mg/kg) decreased memory acquisition. However, co-administration of SCH 23390 (0.01μg/mouse) with different doses of harmaline did not alter amnesia. Conversely, pre-training intra-BLA injection of SKF38393 (0.1μg/mouse), sulpiride (0.25μg/mouse) or quinpirole (0.1μg/mouse) reversed harmaline (1mg/kg, i.p.)-induced amnesia. Furthermore, all above doses of drugs had no effect on locomotor activity. In conclusion, the dopamine D1 and D2 receptors of the BLA may be involved in the impairment of memory acquisition induced by harmaline.
authors.affiliation: Cognitive and Neruroscience Research Center, CNRC, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Nasehi@iricss.org.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasehi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Northern Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meskarian
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khakpai
authors.affiliation: Cognitive and Neruroscience Research Center, CNRC, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran; Department of Pharmacology and Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: zarinmr@ams.ac.ir.
authors.forename: M-R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zarrindast
mesh_terms: D000647:Amnesia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000818:Animals; D066272:Basolateral Nuclear Complex / Q000187:drug effects*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006246:Harmaline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D006246:Harmaline
keywords: BLA; dopamine; harmaline; memory; step-down