Stimulation and blockade of α1 adrenoceptors affect behavioural activity, but not spatial working memory assessed by delayed non-matching to position task in rats

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Abstract
The present study investigated the role of α1 adrenergic receptors in the modulation of working memory and behavioural activity by assessing the effects of α1 adrenergic receptor stimulation or blockade on the performance of rats in a delayed non-matching to position task. St-587 (a putative agonist of α 1 adrenoceptors) at a dose of 100 μg/kg slightly increased choice accuracy (per cent correct responses) of rats, but the effect was delay-independent which is interpreted as an improvement in choice accuracy and non-mnemonic (non-working memory) in character. Neither St-587 (300 or 1000 μg/kg) nor prazosin (a prototype antagonist of α1 adrenoceptors) (100 or 300 μg/kg) significantly affected the choice accuracy of rats in this task. Prazosin 300 μg/kg lengthened the latency for correct responses in the working memory task but did not affect food collection latencies. This combination of effects may reflect decreased motor output. St-587 300 and 1000 μg/ kg, but not prazosin, increased food collection latencies in the working memory task. Thus, the present results suggest that α 1 adrenergic receptors do not play any important role in spatial working memory as assessed using the delayed non-matching to position task, but that modulation of α1 adrenoceptors may affect motor activity and motivation in rats.

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