Learning and memory impairment induced by salvinorin A, the principal ingredient of Salvia divinorum, in wistar rats.
International journal of toxicology – December 01, 2011
Source: PubMed
Summary
The potent hallucinogen salvinorin A, from Salvia divinorum, has a significant impact on memory. Scientists explored its effects on rats' spatial, episodic, and aversive memory, plus attention. They discovered salvinorin A didn't affect short-term recall but distinctly impaired long-term spatial, episodic, and aversive memories. Crucially, a specific blocker reversed these deficits, clearly showing the drug acts via a κ-opioid receptor mechanism. These findings firmly establish salvinorin A's detrimental effects on learning and memory.
Abstract
The effects of salvinorin A (Salvia divinorum principal ingredient), a potent κ-opioid natural hallucinogen, on learning and memory were investigated. Wistar rats were tested in the 8-arm radial maze, for object recognition and passive avoidance tasks for spatial, episodic, and aversive memory. Attention was assessed using a latent inhibition task. Salvinorin A (80-640 μg/kg subcutaneous [sc]) did not affect short-term memory, but it impaired spatial long-term memory. Episodic and aversive memories were impaired by salvinorin A (160-640 μg/kg). Memory impairment was blocked by the selective κ-opioid receptor antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine ([nor-B]; 0.5-1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal [ip]). Salvinorin A (160 μg/kg) disrupted latent inhibition, after LiCl treatment, such as reduced sucrose intake, suggesting an attention would result in an impairment of cognitive behavior. These findings demonstrate for the first time that salvinorin A has deleterious effects on learning and memory, through a κ-opioid receptor mechanism.