Abstract
Loss of vestibular function has been associated with cognitive impairment, including attentional problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the D2 dopamine receptor antagonist, eticlopride (0.02, 0.04 and 0.06mg/kg; s.c.), on attention and impulsivity in rats at 2 months following bilateral vestibular deafferentation (BVD), using a 5 choice serial reaction time task (5CSRTT). The levels of the D2 receptor protein in the frontal cortex were measured at 1 and 6 months post-BVD using western blotting. Eticlopride caused a dose-dependent decrease in response in the 5CSRTT, which was greater for sham than for BVD rats in terms of the percentage of correct responses and the number of perseverative responses. There were no changes in the amount of the D2 receptor in the frontal cortex at 1 or 6 months post-BVD; however, D2 receptor levels were significantly higher on the right side than the left in both sham and BVD animals. These results suggest that BVD causes an increase in perseverative behaviour that D2 receptor blockade does not eliminate, but that D2 receptors in the frontal cortex are unchanged.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
