Early life stress exacerbates cognitive dysfunction induced by d-amphetamine: amelioration by valproic acid.

It has been demonstrated that experiences taking place early in life have a profound influence on brain development, interacting with the genetic background and determining differences in the vulnerability to the onset of bipolar disorder when the individual is exposed to a second adverse event later in life. Here, we investigated the effects of exposure to an early adverse life event (maternal deprivation) and to a later adverse life event [D-amphetamine (AMPH)] on cognition in an animal model of mania. We have previously demonstrated that that repeated AMPH exposure produces severe and persistent cognitive impairment, which was more pronounced when the animals were maternal deprived, suggesting that the early adverse life event could be potentiating the effects of the exposure to the second adverse life event later in life.

Rescue of social behavior impairment by clozapine and alterations in the expression of neuronal receptors in a rat model of neurodevelopmental impairment induced by GRPR blockade.

We have previously shown that pharmacological blockade of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) during the neonatal period in rats produces behavioral features of developmental neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we show that social interaction deficits in this model are reversed by the atypical antipsychotic clozapine given in the adulthood. In addition, we analyzed the mRNA expression of three neuronal receptors potentially involved in the etiology of disorders of the autism spectrum.

Early life stress decreases hippocampal BDNF content and exacerbates recognition memory deficits induced by repeated D-amphetamine exposure.

Adverse experiences early in life may have profound influences on brain development, for example, determining alterations in response to psychostimulant drugs, an increased risk of developing a substance abuse disorder, and individual differences in the vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders later in life. Here, we investigated the effects of exposure to an early adverse life event, maternal deprivation, combined with repeated d-amphetamine (AMPH) administration in adulthood, on recognition memory and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in rats' brain and serum. Rats were exposed to one of the following maternal rearing conditions from postnatal days 1 to 14: non-deprived (ND) or deprived (D).

Modulatory influence of dopamine receptors on consolidation of object recognition memory.

The role of dopamine receptors in regulating the formation of recognition memory remains poorly understood. Here we show the effects of systemic administration of dopamine receptor agonists and antagonists on the formation of memory for novel object recognition in rats. In Experiment I, rats received an intraperitoneal (i.

Neonatal gastrin-releasing peptide receptor blockade reduces maternal odor preference in rats.

Alterations in attachment behavior might play a role in the dysfunction in social behavior displayed by autistic infants. Here we show that neonatal gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) blockade induces a reduction in maternal odor preference, a task involving attachment behavior, in infant rats. These findings provide the first evidence that the GRPR regulates odor preference, supporting the view that the GRPR is involved in attachment and social behaviors.

Desferoxamine reverses neonatal iron-induced recognition memory impairment in rats.

We have previously demonstrated that rats given iron neonatally presented memory deficits. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of desferoxamine, a metal chelating agent, on memory deficits in an iron overload model in rats. Male rats received vehicle or iron orally at postnatal days 12-14 and desferoxamine (30 or 300 mg/kg) in the adulthood.

Adrenergic enhancement of consolidation of object recognition memory.

Extensive evidence indicates that epinephrine (EPI) modulates memory consolidation for emotionally arousing tasks in animals and human subjects. However, previous studies have not examined the effects of EPI on consolidation of recognition memory. Here we report that systemic administration of EPI enhances consolidation of memory for a novel object recognition (NOR) task under different training conditions.

Reversion of age-related recognition memory impairment by iron chelation in rats.

It is now generally accepted that iron accumulates in the brain during the ageing process. Increasing evidence demonstrate that iron accumulation in selective regions of the brain may generate free radicals, thereby possessing implications for the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders. In a previous study we have reported that aged rats present recognition memory deficits.

Differential effects of low and high doses of topiramate on consolidation and retrieval of novel object recognition memory in rats.

Topiramate is a new antiepileptic drug proposed to facilitate synaptic inhibition and block excitatory receptors. However, little is known about the effects of topiramate on memory. In the first experiment, intraperitoneal injection of topiramate at doses of 10.