Tramadol state-dependent memory: involvement of dorsal hippocampal muscarinic acetylcholine receptors

Behav Pharmacol. 2016 Aug;27(5):470-8. doi: 10.1097/FBP.0000000000000239.

Abstract

The effects on tramadol state-dependent memory of bilateral intradorsal hippocampal (intra-CA1) injections of physostigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, and atropine, a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, were examined in adult male NMRI mice. A single-trial step-down passive avoidance task was used for the assessment of memory retention. Post-training intra-CA1 administration of an atypical μ-opioid receptor agonist, tramadol (0.5 and 1 μg/mouse), dose dependently impaired memory retention. Pretest injection of tramadol (0.5 and 1 μg/mouse, intra-CA1) induced state-dependent retrieval of the memory acquired under the influence of post-training tramadol (1 μg/mouse, intra-CA1). A pretest intra-CA1 injection of physostigmine (1 μg/mouse) reversed the memory impairment induced by post-training administration of tramadol (1 μg/mouse, intra-CA1). Moreover, pretest administration of physostigmine (0.5 and 1 μg/mouse, intra-CA1) with an ineffective dose of tramadol (0.25 μg/mouse, intra-CA1) also significantly restored retrieval. Pretest administration of physostigmine (0.25, 0.5, and 1 μg/mouse, intra-CA1) by itself did not affect memory retention. A pretest intra-CA1 injection of the atropine (1 and 2 μg/mouse) 5 min before the administration of tramadol (1 μg/mouse, intra-CA1) dose dependently inhibited tramadol state-dependent memory. Pretest administration of atropine (0.5, 1, and 2 μg/mouse, intra-CA1) by itself did not affect memory retention. It can be concluded that dorsal hippocampal muscarinic acetylcholine receptor mechanisms play an important role in the modulation of tramadol state-dependent memory.

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Atropine / administration & dosage
  • Atropine / pharmacology
  • Avoidance Learning / drug effects
  • CA1 Region, Hippocampal / drug effects
  • CA1 Region, Hippocampal / metabolism
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Male
  • Memory / drug effects*
  • Mice
  • Muscarinic Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Muscarinic Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Physostigmine / administration & dosage
  • Physostigmine / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Muscarinic / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Muscarinic / metabolism
  • Tramadol / administration & dosage
  • Tramadol / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Muscarinic Antagonists
  • Receptors, Muscarinic
  • Tramadol
  • Atropine
  • Physostigmine