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Paper   IPM / Cognitive Sciences / 12170
School of Cognitive Sciences
  Title:   Activation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors in the central amygdala impairs inhibitory avoidance memory consolidation via NMDA receptors
  Author(s): 
1.  Maryam Ghiasvand
2.  Ameneh Rezayof
3.  Mohammad Reza Zarrindast
4.  Shamseddin Ahmadi
  Status:   Published
  Journal: Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
  Vol.:  96
  Year:  2011
  Pages:   333-338
  Supported by:  IPM
  Abstract:
In the present study, we investigated the influence of bilateral intra-central amygdala (intra-CeA) microinjections of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agents on amnesia induced by a cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist, arachydonilcyclopropylamide (ACPA). This study used a step-through inhibitory (passive) avoidance task to assess memory in adult male Wistar rats. The results showed that intra-CeA administration of ACPA (2 ng/rat) immediately after training decreased inhibitory avoidance (IA) memory consolidation as evidenced by a decrease in step-through latency on the test day, which was suggestive of drug-induced amnesia. Post-training intra-CeA microinjections of NMDA (0.0001, 0.001 and 0.01 lg/rat) did not affect IA memory consolidation. However co-administration of NMDA with ACPA (2 ng/rat) prevented the impairment of IA memory consolidation that was induced by ACPA. Although post-training intra-CeA administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist, D-( )-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (D-AP5; 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 lg/rat) alone had no effect, its co-administration with an ineffective dose of ACPA (1 ng/rat) impaired IA memory consolidation. Post-training intra-CeA microinjection of an ineffective dose of D-AP5 (0.01 lg/rat) prevented an NMDA response to the impaired effect of ACPA. These results suggest that amnesia induced by intra-CeA administration of ACPA is at least partly mediated through an NMDA receptor mechanism in the Ce-A.

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