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Disruption of two-way active avoidance behavior produced by nimodipine
1Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland.
Abstract:
Nimodipine, a voltage-sensitive calcium channel blocker, has been suggested to be a procognitive drug. In the studies reported herein, we found that low doses of IP-injected nimodipine (0.5 and 0.05 mg/kg) impaired two-way active avoidance behavior. The acquisition phase of the training was the same for drug-treated and control animals. However, the nimodipine-injected rats achieved a significantly lower level of performance. The no-shock tests revealed much faster extinction of the learned behavior in drug-treated vs. control animals. These results could be interpreted as indicating learning-disruptive effects of nimodipine.
Insights
Low doses of nimodipine impaired active avoidance learning and memory in rats. Nimodipine, a calcium channel blocker, demonstrated learning-disruptive effects, contrary to procognitive suggestions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Nimodipine is a calcium channel blocker.
- Nimodipine has been proposed as a procognitive agent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of low-dose nimodipine on learning and memory.
Main Methods:
- Rats received intraperitoneal injections of nimodipine (0.05 or 0.5 mg/kg).
- Two-way active avoidance behavior was assessed.
- Acquisition, performance, and extinction phases were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Low doses of nimodipine impaired active avoidance behavior acquisition.
- Nimodipine-treated rats showed significantly lower performance levels.
- Faster extinction of learned behavior was observed in nimodipine-treated rats.
Conclusions:
- Nimodipine at low doses exhibits learning-disruptive effects.
- The procognitive potential of nimodipine is questionable under these conditions.