The effects of brain natriuretic peptide-32 on electroconvulsive shock-induced amnesia in rats. The role of neurotransmitters

Partial amnesia was induced in rats by electroconvulsive shock (ECS) immediately after passive avoidance learning. This partial amnesia could be prevented by administering porcine brain natriuretic peptide-32 (pBNP-32) into the lateral brain ventricle. The effects of pretreatment with different receptor blockers (haloperidol, atropine, phenoxybenzamine, propranolol, naloxone, bicuculline and methysergide) on the pBNP-32-induced antiamnesia were investigated. In the doses selected, the blockers had no influence on the ECS-induced amnesia. Haloperidol, atropine, phenoxybenzamine and propranolol blocked the antiamnesic action of the peptide, while naloxone, bicuculline and methysergide were ineffective. These results suggest that pBNP-32 may influence learning processes and that the antiamnesic action of this peptide is mediated by dopaminergic, cholinergic α- and β-adrenergic mediator systems.