Name: CLECIANE WALDETARIO MARTINS
Publication date: 25/08/2016
Advisor:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| LÍVIA CARLA DE MELO RODRIGUES | Advisor * |
Examining board:
| Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| LÍVIA CARLA DE MELO RODRIGUES | Advisor * |
| VALERIO GARRONE BARAUNA | Internal Examiner * |
Summary: The modulation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) excitability by direct current stimulation
improves cognitive function. However, the underlying mechanisms remains unknown.
Here we investigated the involvement of glutamate α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-
isoxazole propionic acidreceptors (AMPARs) on the effects of repetitive epidural
direct current stimulation (eDCS) on long-termed spatial working memory. Methods:
Well-trained rats in 8-arm radial maze (8-RM) procedures received acute
intraperitoneal (IP) administration of the AMPAR antagonist, perampanel (PRP, 1
mg/kg) or its vehicle (VEH) before performing 4-h delayed tasks in 8-RM. This drug
intervention was performed before or after repetitive (once daily, five consecutive
days) anodal eDCS (400 μA, 13 minutes) over the left medial PFC or sham
procedure. Results: Animals treated with PRP (n = 27) showed larger number of
errors (p < 0.01) in the 4-h post-delayed performance compared to those treated with
VEH (n = 26). After the repetitive eDCS, animals treated with VEH (n = 13) presented
smaller number of errors in the 4-h post-delay performance compared to animals
receiving VEH after sham (p = 0.05, n = 12) and those receiving PRP after eDCS (p=
0.001, n = 13). These animals receiving PRP after eDCS showed larger (p = 0.025)
number of errors when compared to those treated with PRP after sham (n = 12).
Conclusions: AMPARs antagonism disrupted the spatial working memory and
reversed the facilitating effects of the eDCS applied over the medial PFC. Thus, the
spatial working memory and the prefrontal cognitive modulation by the direct current
stimulation are highly dependent on AMPARs activity.
