The nociceptin system and hippocampal cognition in mice: a pharmacological and genetic analysis

Brain Res. 2009 Dec 11:1305 Suppl:S7-19. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2009.09.075. Epub 2009 Sep 25.

Abstract

This study examines the effects of NOP agonists nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) and Ro 64-6198, NOP antagonists [Nphe(1)]N/OFQ(1-13)-NH(2) Nphe(1) and naloxone benzoylhydrazone (NalBzoH) on spatial memory in NMRI mice and pronociceptin (proNC) knockout (KO) mice using the water maze task. N/OFQ, administered i.c.v. (1, 5 and 10 nmol/mouse) and into hippocampal CA3 (1 nmol/mouse, bilaterally), impaired acquisition and retention in the maze. Impairments were blocked by pre-treatment with Nphe(1) (10 nmol, i.c.v.). Ro 64-6198 (0.1-0.3-1 mg/kg i.p.) also dose-dependently impaired learning. However, pre-treatment with NalBzoH (1 mg/kg, s.c.) failed to modify the effects of Ro 64-6198. Nphe(1) (10 nmol/mouse i.c.v.) and NalBzoH (1 mg/kg, s.c.) by themselves failed to affect maze performance, despite a tendency for enhanced performance. Prepro N/OFQ knockout (ppN/OFQ -/-) showed evidence of improved learning, evident at retention trials and in reversal training. ppN/OFQ -/- mice were not impaired by N/OFQ (10 nmol i.c.v.) in the task, suggesting that changes in postsynaptic NOP receptors may occur in such KO mice. It is concluded that N/OFQ and NOP receptors have an important role in hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory, probably by modulation of glutamatergic functions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Central Nervous System Agents / administration & dosage
  • Central Nervous System Agents / pharmacology
  • Cognition / drug effects
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / physiology*
  • Imidazoles / administration & dosage
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / drug effects
  • Maze Learning / physiology*
  • Memory / drug effects
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Naloxone / administration & dosage
  • Naloxone / analogs & derivatives
  • Naloxone / pharmacology
  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Nociceptin
  • Nociceptin Receptor
  • Opioid Peptides / metabolism*
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Protein Precursors / genetics
  • Protein Precursors / metabolism
  • Random Allocation
  • Receptors, Opioid / agonists
  • Receptors, Opioid / genetics
  • Receptors, Opioid / metabolism*
  • Reversal Learning / drug effects
  • Reversal Learning / physiology
  • Spiro Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Spiro Compounds / pharmacology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Agents
  • Imidazoles
  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Opioid Peptides
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Protein Precursors
  • Receptors, Opioid
  • Ro 64-6198
  • Spiro Compounds
  • nociceptin (1-13) amide
  • prepronociceptin
  • naloxone benzoylhydrazone
  • Naloxone
  • Nociceptin Receptor
  • Oprl1 protein, mouse