Comparison of the effects of tianeptine and paroxetine on amnesic deficits induced by prolonged alcohol drinking in mice
Béracochéa, D.; Deslandes, A.; Jaffard, R.
L'Encephale 20(1): 13-16
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0013-7006 PMID: 8174506 Document Number: 436942
Previous experiments have shown that chronic ethanol consumption in mice for 12 months produced memory deficits associated with both alterations in diencephalic structures (ie, cellular loss, hypometabolism, particularly in mamillary bodies) and with hippocampal and cortical cholinergic hypofunction (Béracochéa et al., Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1992; 42: 749-53). The present study was aimed at comparing the effects of tianeptine and paroxetine (10 mg.kg-1, i.p.), that have opposite properties on serotoninergic transmission, on this alcohol-induced memory deficits. For this purpose, animals were submitted to a T-maze sequential alternation task in which they were given daily series of 6 successive trials separated by a 30-second interval. Behavioural testing began following a 4-week complete withdrawal period. The experiment was conducted in two steps. In the first part, animals received no treatment. Results showed that, as compared to the control group (pair-fed, n = 7), alcohol-treated mice (n = 20) displayed a trial-specific impairment of alternation rates. Specifically, they were impaired on the last three trials (4-6) of the series (52.2 vs 81.0%, p < 0.001), but performed normally on the first ones (2-3), suggesting thereby an increased sensitivity to proactive interference (Béracochéa et al., Behav Brain Res 1987; 25: 63-74). In the second part of the experiment the alcohol group was divided into three homogeneous groups according to the treatment they received 30 minutes before each daily session (ie, placebo, tianeptine, paroxetine).