The acute effect of p-chloroamphetamine on the retention of fear conditioning in the rat: evidence for a role of serotonin in memory consolidation.

Abstract

The acute effect of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) releasing compound p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) on the acquisition and retention of shock-elicited fear conditioning to the contextual cues of a normal two-compartment shuttlebox in the rat was studied in three experiments. PCA (5 mg/kg) did not impair the acquisition of fear conditioning (Experiment 1). PCA, administered either 30 or 60 min before fear conditioning, caused a total blockade of fear retention when tested 24 h after acquisition. This retrograde amnesic effect was blocked by the 5-HT uptake blocker zimelidine (10 mg/kg) when PCA was injected 60 min before shock. These findings indicate that 5-HT neurones, possibly in the forebrain, may exert an inhibitory influence upon the long-term aspects of information consolidation in memory.

• Authors: T Archer, S O Ogren, C Johansson
• Journal: Neuroscience letters (Neurosci Lett) Vol. 25 Issue 1 Pg. 75-81 (Aug 07 1981) ISSN: 0304-3940 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 7279303 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Amphetamines
• Serotonin
• p-Chloroamphetamine

Topics

• Amphetamines (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Avoidance Learning (drug effects)
• Conditioning, Psychological (drug effects)
• Electroshock
• Fear (drug effects)
• Male
• Memory (drug effects)
• Neural Inhibition (drug effects)
• Rats
• Retention, Psychology (drug effects)
• Serotonin (metabolism)
• p-Chloroamphetamine (pharmacology)