Naloxone impairs spatial performance in rats

Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars). 1997;57(1):71-4. doi: 10.55782/ane-1997-1212.

Abstract

Naloxone-injected (1.0 mg/kg) and saline-injected control rats were subjected to a two-trial test of object localization memory. In trial I rats were allowed to explore for 5 min an enclosed T-maze with an object (plastic bottle) placed in one maze arm. Then, the object was removed and after a 20-min retention interval rats were faced with two empty arms of the same maze (trial II). Control rats showed good retention of the place occupied by the object, displaying a significant preference (74%, P < 0.032) for the arm which previously contained the object. Naloxone treated rats responded at chance levels (53%). An accurate performance in this task is normally based on information provided by spatial cues outside the maze (cognitive map), so that a random performance of Naloxone treated rats could supposedly be related to some disorders in the internal representation of the environment.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / drug effects*
  • Naloxone / pharmacology*
  • Narcotic Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Spatial Behavior / drug effects*

Substances

  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Naloxone