Effects of the noradrenergic neurotoxin DSP4 on spatial memory in the rat

Patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show various cognitive impairments such as deficits in attention or working memory. Most symptoms of ADHD are thought to be associated with a dysbalance between the neurotransmitters noradrenaline and dopamine in the brain. In order to investigate the role of noradrenaline in this context we have produced a central depletion of noradrenaline in rats by administering different doses (10, 20 or 50 mg/kg body weight) of the neurotoxin N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine (DSP4) and assessing the behavioral consequences with a modified hole board task. The administration of DSP4 affected the working memory error, while reference memory and motor functions were not affected. The use of different doses of DSP4 to influence prefrontal functions and to understand the dysbalance of dopamine and noradrenaline in ADHD appears to be a promising approach.