The alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist dexmedetomidine suppresses memory formation only at doses attenuating the perception of sensory input

Hugo van Oostrom, Peter J Stienen, Arie Doornenbal, Ludo J Hellebrekers

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

    12 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    It was investigated whether continuous rate infusion of the alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist dexmedetomidine can suppress memory formation by mechanisms other than reducing perception of sensory input in a fear-conditioning paradigm. Different groups of rats infused with either saline or dexmedetomidine (2.0, 4.0 or 10.0microg/kg bolus, followed by 2.0, 4.0 or 10.0microg/kg/h continuous rate infusion respectively), were subjected to a somatosensory-evoked potential (SEP) fear-conditioning paradigm. This paradigm combined the pairing of an innoxious conditioned stimulus (CS) and a noxious unconditioned stimulus (US), of which the latter was used to generate the SEPs (training phase).The following day, the perception of the US during the training phase was assessed by presenting the CS only and subsequently scoring the resulting duration of freezing behaviour (testing phase). Freezing behaviour was reduced only in those groups which demonstrated reduced SEPs. Based on these findings, it is concluded that dexmedetomidine suppresses memory formation only at doses reducing central nervous system activity in response to sensory input.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)58-62
    Number of pages5
    JournalEuropean Journal of Pharmacology
    Volume629
    Issue number1-3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 10 Mar 2010

    Bibliographical note

    Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

    Keywords

    • Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists
    • Animals
    • Behavior, Animal
    • Dexmedetomidine
    • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
    • Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory
    • Fear
    • Infusion Pumps
    • Male
    • Memory
    • Movement
    • Perception
    • Rats
    • Rats, Wistar
    • Sodium Chloride

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