Open AccessActivation of 5‐ HT 7 receptor by administration of its selective agonist, LP ‐211, modifies explorative‐curiosity behavior in rats in two paradigms which differ in visuospatial parameters
Author(s) -
Carbone Cristiana,
Adinolfi Annalisa,
Cinque Stefano,
Lacivita Enza,
Alleva Enrico,
Leopoldo Marcello,
Adriani Walter
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
cns neuroscience and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1755-5949
pISSN - 1755-5930
DOI - 10.1111/cns.12812
Subject(s) - novelty , agonist , curiosity , psychology , stimulation , cognition , neuroscience , medicine , receptor , endocrinology , social psychology
Summary Aims The serotonin 7 receptor (5‐ HT 7R) subtype, coded by Htr7 gene, is broadly expressed in the central nervous system ( CNS ) with clear involvement in behavioral functions such as learning/memory, regulation of mood, and circadian rhythms. In this study, we assessed effects of 5‐ HT 7R stimulation by administration of its selective agonist, LP ‐211 (0.25 mg/kg i.p.), in adult Wistar‐Han rats. Methods We used two different explorative‐curiosity tests. Drug was administered either before one side‐chamber familiarization ( CF /V group) or immediately after it, to act on consolidation of familiarization (V/ CF group). Results Exp. 1 for novelty seeking in black/white boxes ( BWB ), with door opening after 5 minutes in the familiar chamber, showed that (i) time spent in the novel environment (significantly higher than in familiar chamber for controls) is enhanced in V/ CF group (potentiated recognition for a “visual” consolidation) and not different in CF /V group; (ii) activity and chamber transitions, made by CF /V rats, are significantly higher than for other groups (interference on recognition for a “spatial” acquisition). Exp. 2 for novelty preference in D‐ vs L‐shaped chambers (D/L), with start from neutral center, gave different results: (i) time spent in the novel environment by CF /V group is significantly higher than other groups (potentiated “cognitive” acquisition); (ii) chamber transitions made by V/ CF group are significantly higher than other groups (potentiated “emotional” consolidation). Conclusion These apparently conflicting results may reflect LP ‐211 effects on visual vs spatial memory (D/L apparatus has more pronounced hippocampal components than BWB ). However, further experiments are needed to analyze more in depth the mechanisms involved.