Biomaterial Database

Learning impairments induced by glutamate blockade using dizocilpine (MK-801) in monkeys. 1998

J A Harder, and A A Aboobaker, and T C Hodgetts, and R M Ridley

MRC Comparative Cognition Team, Department of Experimental Psychology, Cambridge.

1. This study investigated the effects of dizocilpine (MK-801) on learning ability in a non-human primate. Acquisition and reversal learning of visual discrimination tasks and acquisition of visuo-spatial discrimination tasks were assessed in marmosets using the Wisconsin General Test Apparatus. Dizocilpine impaired acquisition of visuo-spatial (conditional) tasks requiring spatial responses to coloured objects, and perceptually difficult visual discrimination tasks in which stimulus objects are painted black. Dizocilpine did not, however, impair either acquisition or reversal of a simple visual discrimination task using easily discriminated, coloured objects. 2. Motor effects of dizocilpine treatment, which have been seen in other primates, were examined by observation of the marmosets in their home cages, using both an automated locomotor activity monitor and 'blind', subjective counting of the number of abnormal movements in a given time period. Locomotor activity, assessed using the automated monitor, was not significantly affected at any of the doses tested. Incoordination, assessed by human observation of abnormal movements, was significantly increased only at a dose of 30 microg kg(-1) i.m., which was twice the highest dose used to assess the effects of dizocilpine on cognition. 3. We have, therefore, found an effect of dizocilpine on acquisition and reversal of some types of cognitive task, at a dose which does not cause significant motor effects. This demonstration of a cognitive deficit associated with glutamatergic blockade in a primate may be useful in understanding the contribution of glutamatergic dysfunction to cognitive decline in neurodegenerative disease, especially Alzheimer's disease.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007858	Learning	Relatively permanent change in behavior that is the result of past experience or practice. The concept includes the acquisition of knowledge.	Phenomenography
D007859	Learning Disabilities	Conditions characterized by a significant discrepancy between an individual's perceived level of intellect and their ability to acquire new language and other cognitive skills. These may result from organic or psychological conditions. Relatively common subtypes include DYSLEXIA, DYSCALCULIA, and DYSGRAPHIA.	Adolescent Learning Disabilities,Adult Learning Disabilities,Child Learning Disabilities,Developmental Academic Disability,Developmental Academic Disorder,Developmental Disabilities of Scholastic Skills,Learning Disabilities, Adolescent,Learning Disabilities, Child,Learning Disorders,Academic Disorder, Developmental,Adult Learning Disorders,Developmental Disorders of Scholastic Skills,Learning Disorders, Adult,Learning Disturbance,Scholastic Skills Development Disorders,Academic Disabilities, Developmental,Academic Disability, Developmental,Academic Disorders, Developmental,Adolescent Learning Disability,Adult Learning Disability,Adult Learning Disorder,Child Learning Disability,Developmental Academic Disabilities,Developmental Academic Disorders,Disabilities, Adolescent Learning,Disabilities, Adult Learning,Disabilities, Child Learning,Disabilities, Developmental Academic,Disabilities, Learning,Disability, Adolescent Learning,Disability, Adult Learning,Disability, Child Learning,Disability, Developmental Academic,Disability, Learning,Disorder, Learning,Disorders, Adult Learning,Disorders, Learning,Disturbance, Learning,Disturbances, Learning,Learning Disabilities, Adult,Learning Disability,Learning Disability, Adolescent,Learning Disability, Adult,Learning Disability, Child,Learning Disorder,Learning Disorder, Adult,Learning Disturbances
D008297	Male		Males
D009043	Motor Activity	Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon.	Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D002144	Callithrix	A genus of the subfamily CALLITRICHINAE occurring in forests of Brazil and Bolivia and containing seventeen species.	Callithrix jacchus,Hapale,Marmoset, Common,Marmoset, Short-Tusked,Marmosets,Common Marmoset,Common Marmosets,Marmoset,Marmoset, Short Tusked,Short-Tusked Marmoset,Short-Tusked Marmosets
D004192	Discrimination, Psychological	Differential response to different stimuli.	Discrimination, Psychology,Psychological Discrimination
D005260	Female		Females
D005971	Glutamates	Derivatives of GLUTAMIC ACID. Included under this heading are a broad variety of acid forms, salts, esters, and amides that contain the 2-aminopentanedioic acid structure.	Glutamic Acid Derivatives,Glutamic Acids,Glutaminic Acids
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia