GLUTAMATERGIC-CHOLINERGIC INTERACTION ON MEMORY CONSOLIDATION IN MICE

NMRI mice were trained in a one-trial inhibitory avoidance task. They were injected immediately after training with the muscarinic cholinerg ic agonist oxotremorine, the muscarinic cholinergic antagonist atropin e, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) noncompetitive antagonist MK-801, o r with a combination of MK-801 and one of the cholinergic agents. Oxot remorine improved, while atropine and MK-801 impaired, memory retentio n. In addition, oxotremorine attenuated, while atropine enhanced, the effect of MK-801. The results show the existence of a glutamatergic-ch olinergic interaction in modulating memory consolidation of mice.