TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of pregnenolone sulphate in spatial orientation-acquisition and retention:An interplay between cognitive potentiationand mood regulation
AU - Brancato, Anna
AU - Cannizzaro, Emanuele
AU - Cannizzaro, Carla
AU - Plescia, Fulvio
AU - Marino, Rosa Anna Maria
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Neurosteroids can alter neuronal excitability interacting with specific neurotransmitter receptors, thusaffecting several functions such as cognition and emotionality. In this study, we investigated, in adultmale rats, the effects of the acute administration of pregnenolone-sulfate (PREGS) (10 mg/Kg, s. c.) oncognitive processes using the Can test, a non aversive spatial/visual task which allows the assessment of spatialinformation-acquisition during the baseline training, and of memory retention in the longitudinal study. Furthermore, on the basis of PREGS pharmacological profile, the modulation of depressive-like behaviour was also evaluated in the forced swim test (FST). Our results indicate that acute PREGS induces: an improvement in spatial orientation-acquisition and in reference memory, during the baseline training;a strengthening effect on reference and working memory during the longitudinal study. A decrease in immobility time in the FST has also been recorded. In conclusion, PREGS exerts enhancing properties on acquisition,consolidation and retrieval of spatial information, probably due of improved hippocampal dependent memory processes. The additional antidepressant effect observed in the FST can providefurther evidence in support of the potential of PREGS as a therapeutic tool for the treatment of cognitive deficits associated with mood disorders
AB - Neurosteroids can alter neuronal excitability interacting with specific neurotransmitter receptors, thusaffecting several functions such as cognition and emotionality. In this study, we investigated, in adultmale rats, the effects of the acute administration of pregnenolone-sulfate (PREGS) (10 mg/Kg, s. c.) oncognitive processes using the Can test, a non aversive spatial/visual task which allows the assessment of spatialinformation-acquisition during the baseline training, and of memory retention in the longitudinal study. Furthermore, on the basis of PREGS pharmacological profile, the modulation of depressive-like behaviour was also evaluated in the forced swim test (FST). Our results indicate that acute PREGS induces: an improvement in spatial orientation-acquisition and in reference memory, during the baseline training;a strengthening effect on reference and working memory during the longitudinal study. A decrease in immobility time in the FST has also been recorded. In conclusion, PREGS exerts enhancing properties on acquisition,consolidation and retrieval of spatial information, probably due of improved hippocampal dependent memory processes. The additional antidepressant effect observed in the FST can providefurther evidence in support of the potential of PREGS as a therapeutic tool for the treatment of cognitive deficits associated with mood disorders
KW - Cognitive map
KW - Depressive-like behaviou
KW - Pregnenolone-sulphate
KW - Spatial
orientation-retention
KW - Spatial orientation-acquisition
KW - Cognitive map
KW - Depressive-like behaviou
KW - Pregnenolone-sulphate
KW - Spatial
orientation-retention
KW - Spatial orientation-acquisition
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10447/84880
M3 - Article
VL - 99
SP - 130
EP - 137
JO - Behavioural Processes
JF - Behavioural Processes
SN - 0376-6357
ER -