[Nphe1]‐Nociceptin (1‐13)‐NH2, a nociceptin receptor antagonist, reverses nociceptin‐induced spatial memory impairments in the Morris water maze task in rats

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Abstract
The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the novel nociceptin receptor antagonist, [Nphe1]‐Nociceptin (1‐13)‐NH2 (bilateral intrahippocampal injection, 50 nmole rat−1) on purported nociceptin‐induced (bilateral intrahippocampal injection, 5 nmole rat−1) deficits in spatial learning in the rat Morris water maze task. In addition, experiments were performed in an ‘open field’ to investigate possible peptide‐induced changes in exploratory behaviour. Nociceptin significantly impaired the ability of the animal to locate the hidden platform throughout training (P1]‐Nociceptin (1‐13)‐NH2 significantly blocked nociceptin‐induced impairment of spatial learning (P1]‐Nociceptin (1‐13)‐NH2 represents an effective and useful in vivo antagonist at the nociceptin receptors involved in learning and memory. British Journal of Pharmacology (2000) 131, 1379–1384; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0703724