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Objectives: This study was designed to assess cognitive learning and fexibility in Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) animal model induced by chronic administration of dopamine D2/D3 agonist quinpirole (QNP). Main focus was to explore potential defect of cognitive şexibility in this model, as it is often claimed to be present in Obsessive compulsive disorder.
Methods: Cognitive şexibility was tested by reversal in Carousel maze place avoidance task. Animal is to avoid entering a stable room-frame sector (North) on the rotating arena. Four acquisition sessions were followed by four reversal sessions, where to-be-avoided sector was relocated to the opposite side of the arena (South). Number of entrances was considered a main parameter by which performance was assessed. Cognitive şexibility was evaluated by the number of entrances in the first reversal session. Perseverance, a tendency to abide by no longer valid strategy was also assessed. QNP was applied subcutaneously 30 min prior to testing at the dose 0.5mg/kg.
Results: Results show unaltered acquisition in acquisition learning following chronic quinpirole treatment. However, during reversal learning a robust but transient increase of number of entrances in QNP-treated group was observed. This deficit was not associated with perseverance.
Conclusion: In conclusion, we detected a significant reduction in cognitive şexibility manifested by impaired reversal learning.
Acknowledgments: This work was supported by GACR grant 14-03627S and IGA MZ CR NT13386 and by AS CR M200111204.