Abstract
Inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) increase endogenous levels of anandamide (a cannabinoid CB1-receptor ligand) and oleoylethanolamide and palmitoylethanolamide (OEA and PEA, ligands for α-type peroxisome proliferator-activated nuclear receptors, PPAR-α) when and where they are naturally released in the brain. Using a passive-avoidance task in rats, we found that memory acquisition was enhanced by the FAAH inhibitor URB597 or by the PPAR-α agonist WY14643, and these enhancements were blocked by the PPAR-α antagonist MK886. These findings demonstrate novel mechanisms for memory enhancement by activation of PPAR-α, either directly by administering a PPAR-α agonist or indirectly by administering a FAAH inhibitor.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 332-337 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Learning and Memory |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2009 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience