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Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ Microinjected into Hippocampus Impairs Spatial Learning in Rats
Author(s) -
Sandin Johan,
Georgieva Jeanette,
Schött Pär A.,
Ögren Sven O.,
Terenius Lars
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.1997.tb01367.x
Subject(s) - nociceptin receptor , hippocampus , microinjection , hippocampal formation , neuroscience , nociception , chemistry , psychology , medicine , endocrinology , opioid peptide , opioid , receptor
The newly discovered peptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ has been found to increase reactivity to pain and to influence locomotor activity after intracerebroventricular administration. This study investigated the possible role of hippocampal nociceptin/orphanin FQ in spatial learning and in spontaneous locomotion. Male rats were trained in the Morris water task after microinjection of 10 nmol nociceptin/orphanin FQ or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (as control) into the CA3 region of the dorsal hippocampus. Nociceptin/orphanin FQ was found to severely impair spatial learning without interfering with swimming performance. Itrahippocampal injection of nociceptin/orphanin FQ markedly decreased exploratory locomotor activity including vertical movements (rearing). The data suggest that nociceptin/orphanin FQ is a potent modulator of synaptic plasticity within the hippocampus.