ACTIVATION OF ADENOSINE A(1) RECEPTORS IN THE NUCLEUS-ACCUMBENS IMPAIRS INHIBITORY AVOIDANCE MEMORY

Potent and highly selective adenosine A(1) and A(2) receptor agonists were bilaterally injected into the nucleus accumbens of mice 10 min pr ior to inhibitory avoidance training. Retention of the inhibitory avoi dance response was assessed 24 h after training. Intra-ACB activation of A(1) receptors, but not A(2a) receptor activation, significantly im paired the performance of mice during the subsequent retention test. F urthermore, the retention deficit produced by activation of A(1) recep tors was significantly attenuated by pretreating mice with a highly se lective A(1) receptor antagonist. These findings suggest that endogeno us adenosine may modulate information processing in the ventral striat um via adenosine A(1) receptors. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.