AMELIORATING EFFECTS OF ROLIPRAM ON EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED IMPAIRMENTS OF LEARNING AND MEMORY IN RODENTS

The effects of rolipram, a cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase (phosphodie sterase 4) inhibitor, on experimentally-induced amnesia were examined using a 3-panel runway paradigm in rats and a passive avoidance task i n mice. Scopolamine, cerebral ischemia induced by four-vessel occlusio n and electric convulsive shock impaired working memory in the 3-panel runway task. Rolipram at 0.1 mg/kg reduced the increase in errors ind uced by scopolamine or cerebral ischemia. Rolipram at 0.32 mg/kg also reduced the increase in errors induced by electric convulsive shock. D ibutyryl cAMP also had similar effects in 3-panel runway experiments. In the passive avoidance task, rolipram reversed the impairments of th e avoidance response induced by scopolamine, cycloheximide and electri c convulsive shock at 10, 10 and 3 mg/kg, respectively. These results indicate that rolipram ameliorates impairments of learning and memory in rats and mice, and suggest that rolipram might ameliorate the impai rments of learning and memory by elevating cAMP levels.