Source Paper
Supranormal Stimulation of D<sub>1</sub>Dopamine Receptors in the Rodent Prefrontal Cortex Impairs Spatial Working Memory Performance
Justin Zahrt, Jane R. Taylor, Rex G. Mathew, Amy F. T. Arnsten
Journal of Neuroscience • 1997
Delayed Alternation Task
Objective: To examine the effects of D1 dopamine receptor agonist (SKF 81297) infusion into the prefrontal cortex on spatial working memory performance in rats performing a delayed alternation task
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Protocol Steps
Surgical implantation of cannulae
Rats underwent surgical implantation of cannulae for intracranial drug infusion into the prefrontal cortex
Note: Cannulae placement location was critical; anterior placement to PFC resulted in no impairment from SKF 81297
View evidence from paper
“There was a significant relationship between infusion location and drug efficacy; animals with cannulae anterior to the PFC were not impaired by SKF 81297 infusions”
Baseline delayed alternation task training
Rats were trained to perform the delayed alternation spatial working memory task prior to drug infusions
Note: Task performance was established before drug administration
View evidence from paper
“rats performing a spatial working memory task, delayed alternation”
SKF 81297 infusion and task performance
SKF 81297 was infused into the prefrontal cortex at multiple doses while rats performed the delayed alternation task
Note: Dose-related impairment in performance was observed
View evidence from paper
“SKF 81297 produced a dose-related impairment in delayed-alternation performance”
SCH 23390 pretreatment and reversal testing
SCH 23390 was administered as pretreatment prior to SKF 81297 infusion to test whether D1 receptor antagonism could reverse the impairment
Note: SCH 23390 alone had no effect on performance at lower doses, but slightly higher doses impaired performance
View evidence from paper
“The impairment was reversed by pretreatment with a D1 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390, consistent with drug actions at D1 receptors. SCH 23390 by itself had no effect on performance, although slightly higher doses impaired performance”