Intra-basolateral amygdala infusions of AP-5 impair or enhance retention of inhibitory avoidance depending on training conditions

Abstract

Previous evidence has suggested that N-methyl- d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) are critically involved in the acquisition of aversively based learning tasks. However, the role of NMDARs in the BLA in the consolidation of memory of aversive training has not been well elucidated. In the present study, the NMDAR antagonist AP-5 (1 or 3 μg) was infused into the BLA of male Sprague–Dawley rats immediately before, immediately after, or 6 h after training on an inhibitory avoidance task with either a high footshock (HFS; only high dose of AP-5 given) or a low footshock (LFS; both doses of AP-5 given). The 48 h retention of animals given AP-5 (3 μg) immediately before or after HFS training was significantly impaired compared to that of vehicle-controls. In contrast, the retention of rats given AP-5 (3 μg) immediately after LFS training was significantly enhanced compared to that of vehicle-controls. AP-5 (3 μg) infusions administered 6 h after training with either an HFS or LFS did not affect retention. These findings suggest that the NMDARs in the BLA are involved in both the acquisition and consolidation of aversive memory. In addition, the AP-5-induced enhancement of memory obtained with LFS training suggests that NMDARs in the BLA are involved in other mechanisms influencing synaptic transmission, in addition to their well-established role in neuroplasticity.