Background: It is well known that morphine influence learning and memory processes. The Nucleus accumbens (N.ac) which has an important role in reward participates in morphine-induced impairment of memory retention. Considering the cholinergic system is involved in the effects of morphine on learning and memory, in the present study, the effects of intra-N.ac injections of acetylcholine receptor antagonists alone or with morphine on memory retention and morphine-induced memory has been investigated in rats.
Materials and Methods: In this original research animals were bilaterally cannulated in the N.ac and a step-through passive avoidance task was used for the assessment of memory retention .
Results: Post-training subcutaneous administration of morphine dose dependently decreased the learning and induced amnesia. The administration of the same dose of morphine as pre-test treatment induced state-dependent learning. Pre-test intra- N.ac administration of atropine, scopolamine and mecamylamine in different doses alone cannot affect on memory retention. While, pretest intra- N.ac injection of these drugs before the administration of morphine dose dependently inhibited morphine state-dependent learning. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05 .
Conclusion: The processes of learning in animals can be affected by morphine and the opioids produce state-dependent learning. Moreover, it can be concluded that inactivation of the muscarinic and nicotinic acethylcoline receptors in the N.ac are involved in mediating morphine state-dependent learning.
