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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


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