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Memantine ameliorates scopolamine-induced amnesia in chicks trained on taste-avoidance learning
Teresa A Barber1, Megan K Haggarty
1Department of Psychology, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA 17013, USA. barber@dickinson.edu
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
|February 23, 2010
Summary
Memantine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, reversed scopolamine-induced amnesia in chicks. Glutamate administration further modulated this effect, suggesting a link between glutamate and acetylcholine in memory formation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Animal Cognition
Background:
- Memory consolidation involves NMDA receptor activation by glutamate.
- Acetylcholine receptor activation is crucial for memory formation, as scopolamine induces amnesia.
- Memantine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, can enhance memory under certain conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if memantine can counteract scopolamine-induced amnesia in day-old chicks.
- To explore the relationship between glutamate and acetylcholine in memory formation.
Main Methods:
- One-trial taste-avoidance task in day-old chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus).
- Administration of scopolamine (acetylcholine antagonist), memantine (NMDA receptor antagonist), and glutamate.
- Assessment of memory formation and amnesia reversal.
Main Results:
- Scopolamine (50.0mM) significantly induced amnesia.
- Memantine (1.0mM) reversed scopolamine-induced amnesia.
- Glutamate (50.0mM) reversed the memantine-induced amelioration of amnesia.
Conclusions:
- Memantine can ameliorate scopolamine-induced amnesia in chicks.
- A significant relationship exists between glutamate and acetylcholine in the process of memory formation.
