|
Copyright © 1998 by Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences |
Pol. J. Pharmacol., 1998, 50, 15-22 ISSN 1230-6002 |
|
Effect of bicuculline and angiotensin II fragment 3-7 on learning and memory processes in rats chronically
treated with ethanol. M. KUZIEMKA-ŁĘSKA, H. CAR, K. WIŚNIEWSKI. Pol. J. Pharmacol., 1998, 50, 15-22. The aim of this study was to determine the possible influence of bicuculline, the antagonist of GABA-A receptor on behavioral activity (recall, acquisition of conditioned reflexes) of angiotensin II fragment 3-7 (A II 3-7) in rats chronically treated with ethanol. Long term (9 weeks) ethanol intoxication profoundly impaired learning and memory processes in all tests used. The GABA-A receptor antagonist bicuculline (0.25 mg/kg ip) did not influence exploratory and motor activity in the control rats, but we observed tendency (without significance) to decrease the locomotor activity, in the alcohol-intoxicated groups of animals, when the drug was injected together with A II 3-7 (2 mg icv). Bicuculline did not influence retrieval process in passive avoidance recall in both investigated groups, and when the drug was given together with AII 3-7 significantly enhanced its action in the control group and in rats chronically treated with ethanol. Bicuculline significantly improved acquisition in the active avoidance test in the control and alcohol-intoxicated groups. Bicuculline injected together with A II 3-7 significantly decreased its action in the control group. Coadministration of bicuculline with A II 3-7 did not significantly change the activity of A II 3-7 in the acquisition of active avoidance test in the alcohol-intoxicated groups of rats. Key words: bicuculline, A II 3-7, learning, memory, alcohol, behavior, rats |
| Back to: Top | PJP - Home Page | |