Reversal of anisomycin-induced amnesia by the ergot derivative hydergine.

The ergot alkaloid Hydergine was tested for its ability to reverse an amnesia for approach-avoidance training. Thirsty mice were trained to drink in a test chamber and then punished with brief electric shocks for drinking. Those mice injected with the protein-synthesis inhibitor anisomycin immediately after training were amnesic for the shock when tested 48 h later. Pre-test injection of 10.0 or 1.0 mg/kg of Hydergine effectively reversed the amnesia while 0.1 mg/kg was ineffective. Non-contingent shock control groups ruled out the possibility that the effect was due to non-specific effects of the drug or training stimuli.