beta 1-Adrenoceptor or alpha 1-adrenoceptor activation initiates early odor preference learning in rat pups: Support for the mitral cell/cAMP model of odor preference learning

• Published in: Learning & memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2006-01, Vol.13 (1), p.8-13
• Main Authors: Harley, Carolyn W, Darby-King, Andrea, McCann, Jennifer, McLean, John H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1072-0502
• DOI: 10.1101/lm.62006

We proposed that mitral cell beta 1-adrenoceptor activation mediates rat pup odor preference learning. Here we evaluate beta 1-, beta 2-, alpha 1-, and alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists in such learning. The beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist, dobutamine, and the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine, induced learning, and both exhibited an inverted U-curve dose-response relationship to odor preference learning. Phenylephrine-induced learning occurred in the presence of propranolol to prevent indirect activation of beta -adrenoceptors. alpha 1-Adrenoceptor mediation may represent a novel mechanism inducing learning or may increase cAMP in mitral cells via indirect activation of GABA sub(B) receptors. Neither the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, salbutamol, nor the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine, induced learning.