This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Puumala, T. Articles by Sirviö, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Puumala, T. Articles by Sirviö, J. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Stimulation and blockade of 1 adrenoceptors affect behavioural activity, but not spatial working memory assessed by delayed non-matching to position task in rats

A. I. Virtanen Institute, Bioteknia Building, Department of Neuroscience and Neurology, University of Kuopio, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland

Jouni Sirviö

A. I. Virtanen Institute, Bioteknia Building

The present study investigated the role of ₁ adrenergic receptors in the modulation of working memory and behavioural activity by assessing the effects of ₁ adrenergic receptor stimulation or blockade on the performance of rats in a delayed non-matching to position task. St-587 (a putative agonist of ₁ adrenoceptors) at a dose of 100 µg/kg slightly increased choice accuracy (per cent correct responses) of rats, but the effect was delay-independent which is interpreted as an improvement in choice accuracy and non-mnemonic (non-working memory) in character. Neither St-587 (300 or 1000 µg/kg) nor prazosin (a prototype antagonist of ₁ adrenoceptors) (100 or 300 µg/kg) significantly affected the choice accuracy of rats in this task. Prazosin 300 µg/kg lengthened the latency for correct responses in the working memory task but did not affect food collection latencies. This combination of effects may reflect decreased motor output. St-587 300 and 1000 µg/ kg, but not prazosin, increased food collection latencies in the working memory task. Thus, the present results suggest that ₁ adrenergic receptors do not play any important role in spatial working memory as assessed using the delayed non-matching to position task, but that modulation of ₁ adrenoceptors may affect motor activity and motivation in rats.

Key Words: 1 adrenoceptors • motor output • noradrenergic • rat • vigilance • working memory

Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 11, No. 1, 45-51 (1997)
DOI: 10.1177/026988119701100113


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Pussinen and J. Sirvio Effects of D-cycloserine, a positive modulator of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, and ST 587, a putative alpha-1 adrenergic agonist, individually and in combination, on the non-delayed and delayed foraging behaviour of rats assessed in the radial arm maze J Psychopharmacol, March 1, 1999; 13(2): 171 - 179. [Abstract] [PDF]