Neuroscience
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Glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are among the most abundant neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. Ketamine and other noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists are known to induce deficits in learning and the performance of cognitive tasks. The present study was designed to assess the effects of dorsal hippocampal (CA1) GABAb receptors on ketamine-induced spatial and non-spatial memory deficits with regard to the role of Ca(2+) as a defining factor. ⋯ Finally, the subthreshold dose of SKF96365 (a Ca(2+) channel blocker) impaired only the spatial but not non-spatial restoration effects of baclofen or phaclofen following a higher dose of ketamine. Such findings suggest that the ketamine-induced impairment of memory consolidation may occur through GABAb receptors of the CA1 neurons. Moreover, baclofen and phaclofen were shown to possibly exert their effects on the ketamine-induced spatial novelty detection deficits through Ca(2+) channels.