Differential effects of pimozide and SCH 23390 on acquisition of learning in mice

Our main purpose was to clarify the differences between the effects of dopamine D-1 (SCH 23390) and D-2 (pimozide) antagonists on memory acquisition in a water-finding and a one-trial passive avoidance task with ddY mice. In the water-finding task, pimozide (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg i.p.) enhanced the acquisition of latent learning of mice although it suppressed exploratory behavior. In contrast, SCH 23390 (0.1 mg/kg i.p.) attenuated the acquisition of latent learning and suppressed exploratory behavior. In the passive avoidance task, pimozide (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg i.p.) enhanced the acquisition of the passive avoidance response of mice. SCH 23390 (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg i.p.) failed to enhance the acquisition of the passive avoidance response. These results could suggest that a moderate block of D-2 receptors enhances memory acquisition but blocking D-1 receptors affects it in an opposite way.