Memory impairment induced by low doses of reserpine in rats: possible relationship with emotional processing deficits in Parkinson disease

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Aug 1;32(6):1479-83. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2008.05.004. Epub 2008 May 11.

Abstract

We have recently verified that the monoamine-depleting drug reserpine--at doses that do not modify motor function--impairs memory in a rodent model of aversive discrimination. In this study, the effects of reserpine (0.1-0.5 mg/kg) on the performance of rats in object recognition, spatial working memory (spontaneous alternation) and emotional memory (contextual freezing conditioning) tasks were investigated. While object recognition and spontaneous alternation behavior were not affected by reserpine treatment, contextual fear conditioning was impaired. Together with previous studies, these results suggest that low doses of reserpine would preferentially induce deficits in tasks involved with emotional contexts. Possible relationships with cognitive and emotional processing deficits in Parkinson disease are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antipsychotic Agents / toxicity*
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
  • Emotions / drug effects*
  • Fear / drug effects
  • Fear / psychology
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders / chemically induced*
  • Memory Disorders / psychology*
  • Memory, Short-Term / drug effects
  • Parkinson Disease / psychology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Recognition, Psychology / drug effects
  • Reserpine / toxicity*
  • Social Perception*
  • Space Perception / drug effects

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Reserpine