Effects of dizocilpine, chlordiazepoxide, and scopolamine alone and in combination on a multiple-component, repeated-acquisition test of spatial learning

UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Diana B. Padlubnaya (Creator)

Institution

The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )

Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/

Abstract: The present study investigated the effects of the NMDA receptor antagonist, dizocilpine, the GABA agonist, chlordiazepoxide, and ACh antagonist, scopolamine, given alone and in dizocilpine-chlordiazepoxide and scopolamine-chlordiazepoxide combinations, using a within-subject, repeatedacquisition and performance procedure adapted to the Morris Swim Task. The procedure involved teaching subjects to swim to a hidden platform that remained in the same location of the swimming pool in the presence of one set of extrapool cues (performance component) and in a new location each day in a presence of a second set of extra-pool cues (acquisition component). Escape latencies, swim path ratio, and swim speed of each individual subject were analyzed to assess the effects of drugs. NMDAR and ACh antagonists failed to selectively disrupt acquisition patterns. GABA agonist produced selective impairment of acquisition at doses that did not affect performance in three out of four subjects. Furthermore, low doses of chlordiazepoxide when given together with dizocilpine (0.1 mg/kg) blocked the detrimental effects typically caused by that dizocilpine dose. When administered together, 0.3-3.0, 0.3-5.6, and 1.0-3.0 mg/kg of scopolamine and chlordiazepoxide selectively disrupted acquisition patterns. In contrast, when administered together, the 1.0 mg/kg scopolamine dose and 5.6 mg/kg CDZ dose caused behavioral impairments in the performance component. My thanks go to the members of my thesis committee for their continuous guidance and assistance throughout my career at UNCW. I would like to express my appreciation to Dr. Mark Galizio: thank you for your enthusiasm and contribution to my research as well as for your guidance regarding my decisions as a graduate student. I thank Dr. Raymond Pitts whose expertise in pharmacological research has provided me with foundations for my future career. My thanks go to Dr. Antonio Puente: thank you for your endless advices and encouragement throughout my time at UNCW. I also appreciate your providing me with the editorial experience at “Neuropsychology Review”. Finally, my special thanks go to my mentor, Dr. Julian Keith, for his positive attitude, time, patience and believing in me. I would like to express my gratitude for helping me to become a better, more curious investigator.

Effects of dizocilpine, chlordiazepoxide, and scopolamine alone and in combination on a multiple-component, repeated-acquisition test of spatial learning
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Created on 1/1/2009
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Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts

Language: English

Date: 2009

Keywords

Animal experimentation--Effect of drugs on, Behavior modification, GABA--Agonists, Neuropsychopharmacology, Psychopharmacology, Scopolamine, Spatial behavior in animals

Subjects

Animal experimentation -- Effect of drugs on

Spatial behavior in animals

Behavior modification

Scopolamine

GABA -- Agonists

Psychopharmacology

Neuropsychopharmacology

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