Intra-amygdala spermidine administration improves inhibitory avoidance performance in rats. |
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Authors: | M A Rubin J A Stiegemeier M A Volkweis D M Oliveira A C Fenili R L Boemo A Jurach C F Mello |
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Affiliation: | Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. marubin@quimica.ufsm.br |
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Abstract: | In the present study, we investigated the effect of immediate post-training bilateral infusion of spermidine, a polyamine agonist, into the amygdala on inhibitory avoidance learning of rats. Bilateral microinjection of spermidine (0.02--20 nmol) caused an increase in test step-down latencies at high concentrations. Administration of arcaine (0.002--0.2 nmol), an antagonist of the NMDA receptor polyamine binding site, decreased test step-down latencies. On the other hand, co-administration of arcaine and spermidine completely reversed the spermidine-induced increase of test step-down latencies. These results provide evidence that polyamines may be involved in learning and memory modulation in the amygdala. |
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