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Paper   IPM / Cognitive Sciences / 13847
School of Cognitive Sciences
  Title:   The possible role of medial prefrontal cortex beta-1-adrenoceptors in morphine-induced amnesia
  Author(s): 
1.  A. Torkaman-Boutorabi
2.  S.M. Hashemi-Hezaveh
3.  H. Sheidadoust
4.  M.R. Zarrindast
  Status:   Published
  Journal: PHARMACOLOGY
  Vol.:  93
  Year:  2014
  Pages:   272-277
  Supported by:  IPM
  Abstract:
The prelimbic region of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in the brain is crucial for memory. Norepinephrine elicits an important influence on mPFC functions. The stimulation of β-adrenoceptors (β-ARs) may play a critical role in the consolidation of long-term memory. The present study examines the possible role of β₁-ARs located in the mPFC on morphine-induced amnesia in rats. The animals were bilaterally implanted with chronic cannulas in the mPFC, trained in a step-through-type passive avoidance task and tested 24 h after training to measure step-through latency. Our present results indicated that posttraining intraperitoneal administration of morphine (2.5, 5 and 7.5 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced the step-through latency. Different doses of xamoterol (0.01, 0.1 and 1 µg/rat) have shown no significant change in the step-through latency, but posttraining intra-mPFC microinjection of atenolol (0.2 and 0.4 µg/rat) had an amnesic effect. Moreover, atenolol-caused amnesia was reversed by an ineffective dose of xamoterol (0.1 µg/rat). On the other hand, coadministration of an ineffective dose of atenolol (0.1 µg/rat) with an ineffective dose of morphine (2.5 mg/kg) induced an amnesic effect. Meanwhile, xamoterol had no effect on morphine-induced amnesia. These results suggest that β₁-ARs of the prelimbic region in the mPFC may play an important role in morphine-induced amnesia.

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