INFLUENCE OF POTASSIUM CHANNEL MODULATORS ON COGNITIVE-PROCESSES IN MICE

1 The effect of i.c.v. administration of different potassium channel o peners (minoxidil, pinacidil, cromakalim) and potassium channel blocke rs (tetraethylammonium, apamin, charybdotoxin, gliquidone, glibenclami de) on memory processes was evaluated in the mouse passive avoidance t est. 2 The administration of minoxidil (10 mu g per mouse i.c.v.), pin acidil (5-25 mu g per mouse i.c.v.) and cromakalim (10-25 mu g per mou se i.c.v.) immediately after the training session produced an amnesic effect. 3 Tetraethylammonium (TEA; 1-5 mu g per mouse i.c.v.), apamin (10 ng per mouse i.c.v.), charybdotoxin (1 mu g per mouse i.c.v.), gli quidone (3 pg per mouse i.c.v.) and glibenclamide (1 mu g per mouse i. c.v.), administered 20 min before the training session, prevented the potassium channel opener-induced amnesia. 4 At the highest effective d oses, none of the drugs impaired motor coordination, as revealed by th e rota rod test, or modified spontaneous motility and inspection activ ity, as revealed by the hole board test. 5 These results suggest that the modulation of potassium channels plays an important role in the re gulation of memory processes. On this basis, the potassium channel blo ckers could be useful in the treatment of cognitive deficits.