Abstract
Acetylcholine plays a role in mnemonic and attentional processes, but also in locomotor and anxiety-related behavior. Receptor blockage by scopolamine can therefore induce cognitive as well as motor deficits and increase anxiety levels. Here we show that scopolamine, at a dose that has previously been found to affect learning and memory performance (0.1mg/kg i.p.), has a widespread effect on cytochrome c oxidase histochemistry in various regions of the rat brain. We found a down-regulation of cytochrome c oxidase in the nucleus basalis, in movement-related structures such as the primary motor cortex and the globus pallidus, memory-related structures such as the CA1 subfield of the hippocampus and perirhinal cortex and in the anxiety-related structures like the amygdala, which also plays a role in memory. However choline acetyltransferase levels were only affected in the CA1 subfield of the hippocampus and both, choline acetyltransferase and c-Fos expression levels were decreased in the amygdala. These findings corroborate strong cognitive behavioral effects of this drug, but also suggest possible anxiety and locomotor-related behavioral changes in subjects. Moreover, they present histochemical evidence that the effects of scopolamine are not ultimately restricted to cognitive parameters.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1-7 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy |
Volume | 59-60 |
Early online date | 22 Apr 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2014 |
Keywords
- Scopolamine
- Acetylcholine
- Cytochrome c oxidase
- Choline acetyltransferase
- Anxiety
- Locomotion
- Cognition
- HIPPOCAMPAL THETA-RHYTHM
- MUSCARINIC ACETYLCHOLINE
- CHOLINERGIC INNERVATION
- DIAGONAL BAND
- WATER MAZE
- MEDIAL SEPTUM
- RECEPTORS
- NEURONS
- INVOLVEMENT
- PERFORMANCE