The effect of β-(Tyr9)melanotropin-(9–18) on active avoidance behavior, electroconvulsive shock-induced amnesia and T-discrimination learning of rats

Abstract The effect of β-(Tyr 9 )melanotropin-(9–18) was investigated on active avoidance behavior, electroconvulsive shock (ECS)-induced amnesia and T-discrimination learning in rats. The decapeptide inhibited the extinction of active avoidance behavior. It was also able to block ECS-induced amnesia if the treatment was performed immediately, or 4 hr or 20 hr after the ECS. In the T-discrimination paradigm the peptide facilitated spatial discrimination learning and reversal learning. These results suggest that β-(Tyr 9 )melanotropin-(9–18) can influence learning and memory processes in different behavioral tests.