Administration of a Ca-super(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) inhibitor prevents the learning deficit observed in spinal rats after noncontingent shock administration.

Research has shown that spinal rats given shock to the hind leg when it is in an extended position (contingent shock) will learn to maintain a flexion response. However, subjects that experience shock irrespective of leg position (noncontingent shock) do not exhibit this learning. The current studies examined the role of Ca-super(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in this learning deficit. Subjects were given intrathecal injections of CaMKII inhibitor solution or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) 15 min prior to and immediately or 4 hr following noncontingent shock training. Results demonstrate that the CaMKII inhibitor successfully reversed the learning deficit when injected prior to and immediately following training. These results indicate the importance of CaMKII in the learning deficit present in spinal animals trained with noncontingent shock.