Dissociation of cholinergic function in spatial and procedural learning in rats.

Full Abstract

The cholinergic system has long been known for its role in acquisition and retention of new information. Scopolamine, a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist impairs multiple memory systems, and this has promoted the notion that drug-induced side effects are responsible for diminished task execution rather than selective impairments on learning and memory per se. Here, we revisit this issue with the aim to dissociate the effects of scopolamine (0.2-1.0 mg/kg) on spatial learning in the water maze. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that acquisition of a reference memory paradigm with constant platform location is compromised by scopolamine independent of whether the animals are pre-trained or not. Deficits were paralleled by drug induced side-effects on sensorimotor parameters. Experiment 3 explored the role of muscarinic receptors in acquisition of an episodic-like spatial delayed matching to position (DMTP) protocol, and scopolamine still caused a learning deficit and side-effects on sensorimotor performance. Rats extensively pre-trained in the DMTP protocol with 30 s and 1 h delays over several months in experiment 4 and tested in a within-subject design under saline and scopolamine had no sensorimotor deficits, but spatial working memory remained compromised. Experiment 5 used the rising Atlantis platform in the DMTP paradigm. Intricate analysis of the amount of dwelling and its location revealed a clear deficit in spatial working memory induced by scopolamine, but there was no effect on sensorimotor or procedural task demands. Apart from the well-known contribution to sensorimotor and procedural learning, our findings provide compelling evidence for an important role of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor signaling in spatial episodic-like memory.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: von Linstow Roloff, E (E); Harbaran, D (D); Micheau, J (J); Platt, B (B); Riedel, G (G);

Affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, College of Life Science and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Neuroscience (Neuroscience), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-May; vol 146 (issue 3) : pp 875-89

Dates: Created 2007/05/14; Completed 2007/07/03;

PMID: 17418958, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Conditioning, Operant - drug effects
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Learning - drug effects; physiology
Maze Learning - drug effects; physiology
Memory - drug effects; physiology
Memory, Short-Term - drug effects; physiology

Memory, Short-Term - drug effects; physiology
Muscarinic Antagonists - pharmacology
Parasympathetic Nervous System - drug effects; physiology
Rats
Receptors, Muscarinic - physiology
Scopolamine - pharmacology
Signal Transduction - drug effects; physiology
Space Perception - drug effects; physiology

Associated Chemicals: Muscarinic Antagonists (0) ; Receptors, Muscarinic (0) ; Scopolamine (51-34-3)

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.