Effects of intrahippocampal aniracetam treatment on Y-maze avoidance learning performance and behavioral long-term potentiation in dentate gyrus in rat

Effects of intrahippocampal treatment of aniracetam, a selective agonist fo r DL-alpha -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproionic acid (AMPA) recept ors, on Y-maze avoidance learning task and behavioral long-term potentiatio n (LTP) in perforant path-dentate gyrus were studied in freely moving rats by using in vivo electrophysiology combined with behavioral tests. The resu lts were as follows: (1) intrahippocampal treatment of aniracetam reversibl y enhanced basal synaptic transmission in perforant path to dentate gyrus i n a dosage dependent manner; (2) aniracetam produced improvement in Y-maze learning performance when administration occurred 5 min prior to maze learn ing; (3) aniracetam administration significantly facilitated behavioral LTP in dentate gyrus, while the maximal amplitude of LTP has no significant di fference when compared to saline group. The present results indicate that h ippocampal AM PA receptors are involved in learning and memory. (C) 2001 El sevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.