Amnesic effect of the novel anticonvulsant MK-801

MK-801, a reported N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist with affinity for the phencyclidine (PCP) receptor, injected intravenously in mice before a training trial in a passive avoidance procedure, produced a similar amnesic effect to that produced by the standard amnesic agent scopolamine. Compared to vehicle-treated mice, each drug produced significant amnesia, yet the potency of MK-801 was 40 times that of scopolamine. This result with the MK-801 is consistent with previous reports that drugs which act at PCP recognition sites within the brain produce memory impairing effects in rodents.