brain-natriuretic-peptide--porcine and Amnesia

Partial amnesia was induced in rats by electroconvulsive shock (ECS) immediately after passive avoidance learning. This partial amnesia could be prevented by administering porcine brain natriuretic peptide-32 (pBNP-32) into the lateral brain ventricle. The effects of pretreatment with different receptor blockers (haloperidol, atropine, phenoxybenzamine, propranolol, naloxone, bicuculline and methysergide) on the pBNP-32-induced antiamnesia were investigated. In the doses selected, the blockers had no influence on the ECS-induced amnesia. Haloperidol, atropine, phenoxybenzamine and propranolol blocked the antiamnesic action of the peptide, while naloxone, bicuculline and methysergide were ineffective. These results suggest that pBNP-32 may influence learning processes and that the antiamnesic action of this peptide is mediated by dopaminergic, cholinergic alpha- and beta-adrenergic mediator systems.

Topics: Amnesia; Animals; Avoidance Learning; Brain Chemistry; Electroshock; Injections, Intraventricular; Male; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neurotransmitter Agents; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Receptors, Cell Surface; Swine