Inhibitors of PLA2 and NO synthase cooperate in producing amnesia of a spatial task

Christian Hölscher, Laura Canevari, Gal Richter-Levin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Both nitric oxide and arachidonic acid have been suggested to play a role as a retrograde messenger in synaptic plastic changes which underlie memory formation. However, inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis or of arachidonic acid release have produced contradictory results. We suggest a model which involves simultaneous release of both messenger types which can compensate for the loss of one type. To test this theory, rats were injected either with a drug that inhibits release of arachidonic acid, or a drug that inhibits synthesis of NO, or with both drugs. Acquisition of a water maze task was not different between groups. In the test sessions, however, animals injected with both drugs showed marked amnesic symptoms, while the groups injected with a low dose of nordihydroguaia- retic acid (NDGA) or with nitro-L-arginine (l-NARG) showed a trend towards amnesia. The effect of both drugs appears to be additive. The results support the proposed theory.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)730-732
Number of pages3
JournalNeuroReport
Volume6
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1995

Keywords

  • Arachidonic acid
  • Learning and memory
  • Neurotransmission
  • Nitric oxide
  • PLA
  • Retrograde messenger
  • Synaptic plasticity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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