Influence of acute or chronic calcium channel antagonists on the acquisition and consolidation of memory and nicotine-induced cognitive effects in mice

Nicotinic cholinergic receptors (nAChRs) form a heterogeneous family of ligand-gated ion channels found in the nervous system. The main objective of our research was to investigate the interaction between cholinergic nicotinic system and calcium homeostasis in cognitive processes using the modified elevated plus maze memory model in mice. The time each mouse took to move from the open arm to either of the enclosed arms on the retention trial (transfer latency, TL2) was used as an index of memory. Our results showed that a single injection of nicotine (0.035 and 0.175 mg/kg) shortened TL2 values, improving memory-related processes. Similarly, L-type calcium channel antagonists (CCAs), i.e., flunarizine, verapamil, amlodipine, nimodipine, nifedipine, and nicardipine (at the range of dose 5-20 mg/kg) administered before or after training, decreased TL2 value improving memory acquisition and/or consolidation. Interestingly, at the subthresold doses, flunarizine, nicardipine, amlodipine, verapamil, and bupropion, a nAChR antagonist, significantly reversed the nicotine improvement of memory acquisition, while flunarizine, verapamil, and bupropion attenuated the improvement of memory consolidation provoked by an acute injection of nicotine (0.035 mg/kg, s.c.). After subchronic administration (14 days, i.p.) of verapamil and amlodipine, two CCAs with the highest affinity for nAChRs, only verapamil (5 mg/kg) impaired memory acquisition and consolidation while both verapamil and amlodipine, at the subthresold, ineffective dose (2.5 mg/kg), significantly reversed the improvement of memory provoked by an acute injection of nicotine (0.035 mg/kg, s.c.). Our findings can be useful to better understand the interaction between cholinergic nicotinic receptors and calcium-related mechanisms in memory-related processes.