Influence of D1 dopamine receptor activation on extinction of passive avoidance and amnesia in aggressive and submissive mice

In mice with aggressive and submissive behavioral stereotypes, passive avoidance retrieval in extinction and amnesia was shown to be differently dependent on the activation of D1 dopamine receptors. In extinction, agonist of D1 receptors SKF 38393 injected before training or on 12-th day of testing in a dose of 5 mg/kg impaired the retrieval of a conditioned habit in aggressive mice and improved the retrieval in submissive mice. The opposite effects of D1 receptor activation depending on stereotype were also observed in a procedure of amnesia. In aggressive mice, SKF 38393 essentially reduced the resistance to amnesic effects characteristic of this stereotype. In submissive mice, SKF 38393 attenuated the amnesic effect of a detention in a dangerous compartment and restored the amnesic memory trace. Possible mechanisms of selective involvement of D1 receptors in retention of memory trace of aversive stimuli during extinction and amnesia in mice with different stereotypes of behavior are discussed.     

Interaction of stereotypic behavior in mice and effects of activation of presynaptic dopaminergic receptors in extinction and amnesia

Using the methods of agonistic confrontations of C57BL/6J mice for formation of aggressive and submissive types of behavior and passive avoidance training we investigated the influence of activation of dopamine presynaptic receptors on retention of a memory trace during extinction and amnesia. Autoreceptor agonist (+)3PPP (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) impaired learning and retention of a memory trace during extinction and strengthened the amnestic influence of animal detention in a dangerous compartment on the training day only in aggressive mice. In submissive mice, (+) 3PPP improved the retrieval of passive avoidance during extinction but did not change the development of amnesia. This work was the first to demonstrate that the effects of dopamine autoreceptor activation on the passive avoidance retrieval depend on behavioral stereotype (aggressive or submissive). It is suggested that different basic states of the dopaminergic system in aggressive and submissive mice are responsible for different (+) 3PPP effects.     

Effect of forced swimming on the memory track retention in mice with various behavioral stereotypes

The effects of forced swimming on retrieval of the passive avoidance during its extinction were found to depend on aggressive and submissive behavior. In mice without generated behavioral stereotypes, swim stress applied before or after training stabilized retention of the memory trace retrieval. The similar improved influence of forced swimming on memory storage is revealed in submissive, but not aggressive mice. The increase of resistance against extinction under the swim stress can be connected to facilitation of emotional processes.     

Comparative analysis of haloperidol effects on passive avoidance retention in aggressive and submissive mice

The effects of haloperidol on retention of avoidance during its extinction in C57BL/6J mice were shown to depend on a behavioral stereotype (aggressive or submissive). In submissive mice, haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg) injected an hour before training stabilized retrieval of the conditioned reflex in repeated testings (up to 17 days) as compared to its fast extinction in control animals. In aggressive mice, on the contrary, haloperidol reduced the retention of the memory trace retrieval. It is suggested that divergent haloperidol effects on extinction of passive avoidance in mice with alternative behavioral strategies are determined by the features of organization of the mesolimbico-cortical dopaminergic system and emotional state, in particular, anxiety.     

Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and dizocilpine on memory trace extinction in aggressive and submissive mice

It was shown that injections of NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine and neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and sequential injections of these substances had different effects on learning and extinction of passive avoidance in aggressive and submissive mice. In aggressive mice, dizocilpine impaired and DHEAS did not change learning and retention. However, being injected after dizocilpine, DHEAS blocked the defect of memory trace retrieval induced by dizocilpine. In submissive mice, dizocilpine impaired learning and prolonged extinction of the learned habit. Injection of DHEAS prolonged the extinction in a similar way. Under conditions of sequential injections, DHEAS did not change the suppressive effect of dizocilpine on learning and was not effective in prolongation of extinction.     

GABAergic modulation of amnesic trace reproduction by activation of the dopaminergic system

Features of amnesia trace reactivation by activation of different links of dopaminergic system synaptic apparatus following the change of benzodiazepine, GABAA and GABAB receptors activity are found in experiments in mice. Diazepam pretreatment increases bupropion effectiveness, prolongs duration of enhanced passive avoidance response retrieval during D-1 and D-2 receptors activation by (+)3-PPP and decreases both characteristics under selective D-2 receptor activation by quinpirole. Activation of GABAA and GABAB receptors induces the attenuation of quinpirole effect and the duration of (+)3-PPP action.     

Contribution of GABA receptors in extinction of memory trace in norm and depressive-like state

The dependence of activation and blockade of GABA receptors influences on extinction of passive avoidance response from a type of receptors and initial psychoemotional state of mice is shown. The activation of GABAA receptors by muscimol disrupted extinction in norm and did not influence on delay of this process at mice with "behavioral despair". The activation of GABAB receptors by baclofen accelerated extinction of fair memory at mice with depressive-like state. The blockade of GABAA receptors by bicuculline was ineffective in modification of extinction. The blockade of GABAB receptors by phaclofen promoted retention of fear expression at intact mice and facilitation of extinction at "depressive" mice.     

Extinction and amnesia in aggressive and submissive mice with various terms of agonistic interaction

Dependence of the passive avoidance retrieval on the duration of agonistic interactions was analyzed in C57BL/6J mice in procedures of extinction and amnesia during formation of aggressive and submissive behavioral stereotypes. The resistance to amnestic stimulation was lower in aggressive mice with 10-day experience of victories than in aggressive animals after 20 daily confrontations. Prolongation of extinction in aggressive mice and fast extinction in submissive animals did not depend on the number of agonistic interactions.     

Influence of activation and blockade of NMDA receptors on extinction of passive avoidance response in mice with different levels of anxiety

Influence of agonist (D-cycloserine) and antagonist (dizocilpine) N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors on learning and extinction of passive avoidance response in medium-, high-, and low-anxious mice was studied. In medium-anxious mice, D-cycloserine (30 mg/kg) although not changing learning accelerated development of extinction, whereas dizocilpine (0.15 mg/kg), while impairing passive avoidance learning, detained the extinction. In high-anxious mice with good retrieval of memory trace and absence of extinction, D-cycloserine was ineffective, whereas dizocilpine reduced learning and promoted retention of memory trace retrieval at the generated level on extinction. In low-anxious mice, D-cycloserine impaired learning and accelerated extinction, whereas dizocilpine completely blocked learning and retention of passive avoidance response.     

Interaction of N-methyl-D-aspartate and Dopamine D1 receptors in modulation of passive avoidance extinction at mice with depressive-like state

The effect of activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (D-cycloserine) and dopamine D1 (SKF 38393) receptors on learning and extinction of the passive avoidance response in mice under normal conditions and after formation of "behavioural despair" is studied. The data on ineffectiveness of D-cycloserine and SKF 38393 on training a conditional reflex were obtained. In mice with the normal state, SKF 38393 did not alter the dynamics of extinction, and D-cycloserine facilitated a more rapid decline in retrieval of memory trace when testing without penalty. On exposure to D-cycloserine + SKF 38393 injection, dynamics of extinction was similar to that under the action of D-cycloserine. In mice with the reaction of "behavioral despair", D-cycloserine and SKF 38393 reduced the deficit of the passive avoidance extinction typical for "depressed" animals without drugs. With simultaneous activation of NMDA and D1 receptors we observed acceleration of the extinction start and development of complete extinction of the memory trace about pain impact as compared with single injections of D-cycloserine and SKF 38393.     

Effects of pre-exposure to an experimental chamber on memory trace retrieval in aggressive and submissive mice during extinction of conditioning

Mice with a submissive stereotype of behaviour developed a fast habituation to novelty of environment. A subsequent training revealed a deficit of passive avoidance learning and prolongation of the memory trace extinction. Aggressive mice are characterised by a delay of the habituation and absence of any significant changes in the memory trace retrieval. The findings suggest that responses to environmental novelty and use of its estimation in learning and retention of memory traces are essentially predetermined by the basic strategy of behaviour.     

Features of a passive avoidance extinction of mice with a different level of anxiety

The dependence of the passive avoidance extinction from a level of mice initial anxiety is investigated. Mice were classified as high-, medium- and low-anxious by time spent in the open area of the elevated plus-maze. It is revealed that to each from levels of anxiety there corresponds certain dynamics of extinction. The high-anxious mice are characterized absence of the passive avoidance extinction and stability of good retrieval of memory trace for want of testing down to 15 days. At medium-anxious mice the deficit of avoidance habit performance developed since the 7th day of extinction. At low-anxious mice since the 11th day of testing the deterioration of retrieval was observed.     

Effect of the activation and blockade of D2 dopamine receptors on the immune response in mice with different types of social behavior

Activation of D2 dopamine receptors with a selective agonist quinpirol in C57BL/6J mice was found to induce increase in the immune response regardless of the initial psychoemotional state of animals, e. g. in aggressive mice, submissive mice, and mice without victory or defeat experience (control). However, the immune response level in aggressive and submissive mice was significantly higher than that of control animals. At the same time, the blockade of D2 dopamine receptors with haloperidol suppressed immunogenesis in aggressive and control mice, whereas the immune reactions in submissive mice were unchanged. Thus, the effect of activation and blockade of D2 dopamine receptors on immune function is dependent on the initial psychoemotional status of animals which to a greater extent might be provided by the neuromediator pattern of the brain and activity of DA receptors.     

Training and extinction of passive avoidance in mice lacking monoamine oxidase A

The passive avoidance learning and memory trace retention in mice lacking monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) and control C3H strain were analyzed. It is shown that mice of both strains were well the passive avoidance learners. A delay of the memory trace extinction was found in lacking MAO A mice as compared with control C3H strain. Mice with a genetic MAO A knockout showed decreased amounts of transitions, rearings, looking to a dark compartment and appearing from it. These findings seem to reflect more expressed fear reaction to a dangerous compartment and increased anxiety promoting longer retention of memory trace on a high level of retrieval.     

The role of GABA-A and GABA-B receptors in the development of amnesia

The paper deals with analysis of the influence of blockade of separate components of benzodiazepine-GABA-ionophore complex on the recovery of memory trace amnesia under GABA-A and GABA-B receptors activation in the experiments with conditioned reaction of passive avoidance of mice. Activation of GABA-A receptors did not change the behavioural amnesia manifestation at all terms of testing. Activation of GABA-B receptors before learning and amnestic influence caused spontaneous recovery of avoidance reaction. Blockade of chloride channel by picrotoxin and of benzodiazepine receptor by flumazepil restored the reproduction of the memory trace disturbed against the background of GABA-B receptors activation. Systemic flumazepil administration contributed to the memory trace reproduction against the background of GABA-A receptors activation by muscimol in the dose of 0.5 mg/kg. In conditions of amnesia development against the background of muscimol in the dose of 1 mg/kg the blockade of any component of benzodiazepine-GABA-ionophore complex was not effective. The obtained data testify that activation of GABA-A and GABA-B receptors changes the amnesia development and correction of amnesia memory trace by the blockade of separate components of benzodiazepine-GABA-ionophore complex.     

Learning to solve a spatial task in a water maze in aggressive and submissive mice

Learning and retention of the spatial memory were studied in mice with alternative under conditions of various experimental protocols. Visible and hidden platform acquisition in a simple model of the water maze was similarly fast both in aggressive and submissive mice, but extinction differed. Retention of the platform location preference persisted in aggressive mice in four testing trials. In submissive mice, extiction of the spatial memory was accompanied with a prolongation of search with parallel production of episodes of "passive drift". Differences in spatial learning between aggressive and submissive mice were revealed in a water maze complicated with partitions. In this case, aggressors were able to learn the position of a hidden platform (in contrast to submissive mice with the dominant response of "passive drift"). During testing the response, aggressive mice longer retained the spatial preference without extinction.     

Effect of a change in the effectiveness of a benzodiazepine-GABA-ionophore complex blockade on the reproduction of an amnesic memory trace in mice after preliminary diazepam administration

The paper deals with the results of analysis of the influence of blocked of BD-GABA-ionophore complex and its separate components on recover of memory trace amnesia during BD-receptors activation in experiments on elaboration of CR of passive avoidance in mice. It is shown that at "neurochemical tuning" the improvement of conditioned reaction reproduction on the 2-nd and 21-st day after learning and amnestic action was observed only at GABAA receptor blockade by bicuculline, while the blockade of BD-receptor by flumazepil and of chlorine channel by picrotoxin was ineffective. Simultaneous blockade of all BD-GABA-ionophore complex components was not more effective in comparison with the blockade of its separate links in the recovery of conditioned reaction reproduction. The presented data allow to suppose that "psychogenic" amnesia development is determined by the functional state of neurotransmitter brain systems at learning and amnestic action which stipulates subsequent possibility of memory trace retrieval.     

Facilitative effect of a novel AVP fragment analog, NC-1900, on memory retention and recall in mice

In order to determine the mechanism of action of a new AVP(4-9) analog, NC-1900, on memory processes, memory retention and retrieval tests were conducted in a step-through passive avoidance (PA) task in mice. The administration of NC-1900 facilitated memory retention and retrieval in the PA task through vasopressin1A (V1A) receptors but not V2 receptors. The effect of NC-1900 on memory retention test performance appeared to be due to activation of the protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway via V1A receptors; however, the modulation of PKC was not essential for the facilitative effect of the new peptide in the retrieval test. The facilitation of memory retrieval by NC-1900 may also be mediated by other non-PKC-dependent signaling pathways, such as the phospholipase C-inositol trisphosphate pathway.     

Role of serotonin receptors in the amygdaloid complex and central gray substance in conditioned passive avoidance reaction in rats

The functional role of 5-HT1 receptors in the memory trace retrieval was investigated in amygdala (AM), central gray substance of midbrain (CGS) and frontal cortex. There is used the passive avoidance response in the rat. The decrease of 5-HT1 binding sites in AM and CGS was revealed for the rats with retention of the passive avoidance response. The binding of 3H-5-HT in AM was found two sets of binding sites. It was concluded, that 5-HT1 receptors of AM and CGS are involved in learning processes either in the moment of the memory trace retrieval or immediately after it.     

Extinction of a passive avoidance response of mice with a depressive-like state

The analysis of a behaviour and memory of mice with depressive state is conducted. The mice with "behavioral despair" obtained by forced swimming and mice with submissive stereotype generated by 20 confrontations were used. They were characterized by increased anxiety and reduced exploratory activity in tests of the elevated plus-maze and light/dark apparatus. It is shown that for want of behavioral differences in manifestation of a depressive state the process of extinction was opposite. Mice with "behavioral despair" revealed retention of a high level of memory trace retrieval down to the 21st day of testing reflecting essential delay of extinction. Submissive mice displayed fast extinction begining with the 5th day of testing.