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Endomorphins 1 and 2, endogenous mu-opioid receptor agonists, impair passive avoidance learning in mice
M Ukai1, Y Watanabe, T Kameyama
1Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, 468-8503, Nagoya, Japan. ukai@meijo-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
The effects of intracerebroventricular administration of endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2, endogenous mu-opioid receptor agonists, on passive avoidance learning associated with long-term memory were investigated in mice. Endomorphin-1 (10 and 17.5 microg) and endomorphin-2 (17.5 microg) produced a significant decrease in step-down latency in a passive avoidance learning task. beta-Funaltrexamine (5 microg) almost completely reversed the endomorphin-1 (17.5 microg)- and endomorphin-2 (17.5 microg)-induced shortening of step-down latency, although neither naltrindole (4 ng) nor nor-binaltorphimine (4 microg) produced any significant effects on the effects of endomorphins 1 and 2. These results suggest that endomorphins 1 and 2 impair long-term memory through the mediation of mu-opioid receptors in the brain.