The 5-HT1A agonist tandospirone disrupts retention but not acquisition of active avoidance learning.

To determine the effects of the 5-HT1A partial agonist tandospirone on acquisition and retention, mice were trained on a one-way active avoidance task and tested for retention 24 h later. Groups of mice were injected with either saline or 1, 5, or 10 mg/kg tandospirone 30 min before acquisition. Training was complete when animals achieved a criterion of five avoidances in a block of six trials. Results showed that tandospirone did not alter the rate of acquisition of the avoidance response, but retention was significantly disrupted by the 1- and 5-mg/kg doses. These findings confirm previous suggestions that 5-HT1A agonists can cause anterograde amnesia.