Memory effects of GABA-ergic antagonists in rats trained with two-way active avoidance tasks

In experiments on male Wistar rats, trained and tested for memory after 24 h in a shuttle box, it was found that bicuculline applied intraperitoneally 10 min before the training in a dose of 0.5 mg/kg, improves learning and retention; bicuculline applied immediately after training in a dose of 1.0 mg/kg, improves retention. Picrotoxin, administered i.p. 20 min before training in doses of 0.25 and 0.50 mg/kg, improves learning, while in doses of 0.10-2.0 mg/kg it facilitates retention; picrotoxin, applied immediately after training in doses of 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg, improves retention in the experimental animals. It is assumed that the GABA-ergic receptor antagonists, administered intraperitoneally, facilitate the processes of memory formation, whereby the decrease in the inhibitory effect of GABA is essential.