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Differential effects of anxiogenic central and peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands in tests of learning and memory

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Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that low doses of anxiogenic central benzodiazepine receptor (CBR) ligands, the beta-carbolines, improve performance in various learning and memory tests in animals if administered prior to training. The present experiments compared the effect of a beta-carboline (FG 7142) with that of a pharmacologically distinct anxiogenic compound, a peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) ligand, 4′-chlorodiazepam (Ro5-4864), in two tests of learning and memory in rats. As expected, FG 7142 significantly improved performance in a passive avoidance test. Ro5-4864 was without effect. In a shuttlebox escape test, Ro5-4864 significantly impaired performance while FG 7142 had no effect. The effect of Ro5-4864 was antagonized by the specific peripheral benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, PK 11195. These results indicate that the differential impact of CBR and PBR anxiogenic ligands on performance in aversively-motivated learning tests may be a reflection of their distinct pharmacologies.

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  1. Schrier Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Brown University, 89 Wateman Street, Box 1853, 02912, Providence, RI, USA

    Philip V. Holmes & Robert C. Drugan

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  1. Philip V. Holmes
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  2. Robert C. Drugan
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Holmes, P.V., Drugan, R.C. Differential effects of anxiogenic central and peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands in tests of learning and memory. Psychopharmacology 104, 249–254 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244187

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244187

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