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Rationale: The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) 5-HT receptor is localized in brain areas mediating memory; however, the role of this receptor on memory remains little explored. Objective: First, demonstrating the associative nature of Pavlovian/instrumental autoshaping (P/I-A) task, rats were exposed (three sessions) to CS-US (Pavlovian autoshaping), truly random control, free operant, and presentations of US or CS, and they were compared with rats trained-tested for one session to the P/I-A procedure. Also, effects of the 5-HT receptor agonist LP-211 administered intraperitoneally after training was determined on short- (1.5 h) and long-term memory 24 and 48 h) and on scopolamine-induced memory impairment and cAMP production. Methods: Autoshaping and its behavioral controls were studied. Other animals were subjected to an autoshaping training session and immediately afterwards were given (intraperitoneal) vehicle or LP-211 (0.1-10 mg/kg) and/or scopolamine (0.2 mg/kg) and tested for short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM); their brains were extracted for the cAMP ELISA immunoassay. Results: P/I-A group produced the higher %CR. LP-211 did not affect STM; nonetheless, at 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg, it improved LTM. The 5-HT receptor antagonist SB-269970 (SB; 10.0 mg/kg) alone had no effect; nevertheless, the LP-211 (1.0 mg/kg) LTM facilitation was reversed by SB. The scopolamine (0.2 mg/kg) induced-decrement in CR was accompanied by significant increased cAMP production. The scopolamine-induced decrement in CR and increments in cAMP were significantly attenuated by LP-211. Conclusions: Autoshaping is a reliable associative learning task whose consolidation is facilitated by the 5-HT receptor agonist LP-211. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Growing evidence indicates that 5-hydrohytryptamine (5-HT) receptors mediate learning and memory. Particularly interesting are 5-HT6 and 5-HT7 receptors, which are localized in brain areas involved in memory formation. Interestingly, recently selective 5-HT6 and 5-HT7 receptor agonists and antagonists have become available. Previous evidence indicates that 5-HT6 or 5-HT7 receptors antagonists had no effects, improved memory formation and/or reversed amnesia. Herein, the effects of EMD (a 5-HT6 receptor agonist) and AS19 (a 5-HT7 receptor agonist) in the associative learning task of autoshaping were studied. Post-training systemic administration of EMD (1–10mg/kg) or AS19 (1–10mg/kg) were tested in short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM). Results showed that only EMD 5.0mg/kg impaired both STM and LTM. AS19 at 1–10mg/kg significantly impaired STM but not LTM. In those groups used to test only LTM, EMD impaired it; while AS19 improved LTM. Moreover, in the interaction experiments, the STM EMD-impairment effect was partially reversed by the selective 5-HT6 receptor antagonist SB-399885 (10mg/kg). The STM AS19-impairment effect (5.0mg/kg) was not altered by the selective 5-HT1A antagonist WAY 100635 (0.3mg/kg) but reversed by the selective 5-HT7 receptor antagonist SB-269970 (10.0mg/kg). The AS19-SB-269970 combination impaired LTM. Taken together these data suggest that the stimulation of 5-HT6 impaired both STM and LTM. 5-HT7 receptors stimulation impaired STM but improved LTM. And these results are discussed in the context of their possible neural bases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights • Serotonergic 5-HT 6 receptor tone on memory and/or amnesia. • Dose-response curves of 5-HT 6 receptor experimental molecules. • Different intrinsic activity. • Hippocampal serotonergic tone under amnesic states. Abstract To our knowledge the intrahippocampal serotonergic 5-HT 6 receptor tone on memory and amnesia models remains unexplored. Hence, in the present work we tested intrahippocampal administration of serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 6 receptor experimental molecules with differential intrinsic activity. Methods: In the present study, Automatized Autoshaping memory task was used, useful measuring memory, neural markers, and pharmacological effects. We are hypothesizing that experimental molecules with differential intrinsic activity might reveal serotonergic tone. Particularly, intrahippocampal administration of 5-HT 6 receptor compounds with differential intrinsic activity (i.e., agonistic and antagonistic) might evidencing a serotonergic tone via this receptor. Bilateral intrahippocampal dose-response curves show that administration of EMD386088 (10 and 100 μg) had no effect or (50 μg) decreased conditioned responses (CR) in short- and long-term memory (STM and LTM, respectively); while SB-399885 (10 or 100 μg) significantly decreased CR in STM and LTM (24 and 48-h) or (50 μg) had no effect; thus suggesting that there is a 5-HT 6 receptor tone regulating both STM and LTM. Moreover, intrahippocampal inactive doses of EMD386088 (5 μg) plus SB-399885 (0.5 μg) did not affect STM and LTM; however, partially or completely prevented the scopolamine or dizocilpine-induced amnesia. Thus confirming that both drugs exerted their effects through 5-HT 6 receptor and that there is a hippocampal serotonergic tone under amnesic states, similar to that striatal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]