Administration of the Phosphodiesterase Type 4 Inhibitor Rolipram into the Amygdala at a Specific Time Interval after Learning Increases Recognition Memory Persistence

• Published in: Learning & memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) Vol. 19; no. 10; pp. 495 - 498
• Main Authors: Werenicz, Aline, Christoff, Raissa R, Blank, Martina, Jobim, Paulo F. C, Pedroso, Thiago R, Reolon, Gustavo K, Schroder, Nadja, Roesler, Rafael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 01.10.2012
• Subjects: Amygdala - drug effects; Amygdala - physiology; Animals; Brain Hemisphere Functions; Chi-Square Distribution; Drug Use; Exploratory Behavior - drug effects; Inhibition; Intervals; Learning - drug effects; Learning - physiology; Long Term Memory; Male; Persistence; Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors - pharmacology; Photic Stimulation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Recognition (Psychology); Recognition (Psychology) - drug effects; Retention (Psychology) - drug effects; Rolipram - pharmacology; Testing; Time Factors; Training
• ISSN: 1072-0502; 1549-5485; 1549-5485
• DOI: 10.1101/lm.026997.112

Here we show that administration of the phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitor rolipram into the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA) at a specific time interval after training enhances memory consolidation and induces memory persistence for novel object recognition (NOR) in rats. Intra-BLA infusion of rolipram immediately, 1.5 h, or 6 h after training had no effect on retention tested at 1, 7, and 14 d later. However, rolipram infused 3 h post-training promoted memory persistence for up to at least 14 d. The findings suggest that PDE4 inhibition in the BLA can enhance long-term memory formation when induced specifically 3 h after learning.