Differential effects of anxiogenic central and peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands in tests of learning and memory |
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Authors: | Philip V. Holmes Robert C. Drugan |
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Affiliation: | (1) Schrier Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Brown University, 89 Wateman Street, Box 1853, 02912 Providence, RI, USA |
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Abstract: | Previous research has demonstrated that low doses of anxiogenic central benzodiazepine receptor (CBR) ligands, the beta-carbolines, improve performance in various learning and memory tests in animals if administered prior to training. The present experiments compared the effect of a beta-carboline (FG 7142) with that of a pharmacologically distinct anxiogenic compound, a peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) ligand, 4-chlorodiazepam (Ro5-4864), in two tests of learning and memory in rats. As expected, FG 7142 significantly improved performance in a passive avoidance test. Ro5-4864 was without effect. In a shuttlebox escape test, Ro5-4864 significantly impaired performance while FG 7142 had no effect. The effect of Ro5-4864 was antagonized by the specific peripheral benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, PK 11195. These results indicate that the differential impact of CBR and PBR anxiogenic ligands on performance in aversively-motivated learning tests may be a reflection of their distinct pharmacologies. |
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Keywords: | Peripheral benzodiazepine receptor Central benzodiazepine receptor Ligands Passive avoidance Shuttlebox escape Rat |
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