Effect of MK801 on learning and memory.

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Effect of MK801 on learning and memory. David Thonnard1*, Zsuzsanna Callaerts-Vegh1 and Rudi D'Hooge1 1 KU Leuven, Belgium Rationale. NMDA receptor antagonists impede learning and memory, depending on task characteristics. Furthermore, effects within tasks are dose-dependent. Additionally, while high doses may result in sensorimotor and motivational alterations that effect learning, low doses often lead to null results. Objectives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist MK801 (dizocilpine) on intrinsically different learning tasks. To avoid sensorimotor and motivational impairments, we used a low dose of MK801 and investigated potential effects in an additional control test battery. Methods. Mice were injected prior to every session with MK801 (0.1 mg/kg). Learning and memory was tested in the Morris Water Maze (spatial learning) and a touchscreen-based task (pairwise visual discrimination). In both tasks, the initial learning phase was followed by a reversal. After completion of the learning tasks, mice were subjected to a control test battery that included the prepulse inhibition, breakpoint, open field, elevated plus maze and rotarod test. Results. MK801 had no effect on spatial learning but impaired reversal learning in the visual discrimination task, as observed by the number of session needed to reach criterion, the number of completed trials, the percentage correct and the number of correction trials. MK801 mice committed more perseverative errors compared to controls and showed an increase in activity. Control experiments revealed that MK801 mice were generally more active and demonstrated impaired motor coordination skills. No differences were found in anxiety levels. Visual discrimination data, as well as open field and breakpoint test data suggests perseverative behavior in MK801-treated animals. Conclusion. Low-dose MK801 treatment does not affect initial learning but impairs reversal learning, depending on tasks properties. We argue that differences are due to perseverative behavior, rather than general activity or motor impairments. Keywords: MK801, Dizocilpine, Morris Water Maze (MWM), visual discrimination, NMDA receptor, touchscreen, prepulse inhibition Conference: 12th National Congress of the Belgian Society for Neuroscience, Gent, Belgium, 22 May - 22 May, 2017. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Cognition and Behavior Citation: Thonnard D, Callaerts-Vegh Z and D'Hooge R (2019). Effect of MK801 on learning and memory.. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: 12th National Congress of the Belgian Society for Neuroscience. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2017.94.00012 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 02 May 2017; Published Online: 25 Jan 2019. * Correspondence: Mr. David Thonnard, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, david.thonnard@kuleuven.be Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers David Thonnard Zsuzsanna Callaerts-Vegh Rudi D'Hooge Google David Thonnard Zsuzsanna Callaerts-Vegh Rudi D'Hooge Google Scholar David Thonnard Zsuzsanna Callaerts-Vegh Rudi D'Hooge PubMed David Thonnard Zsuzsanna Callaerts-Vegh Rudi D'Hooge Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.