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The interaction of L-deprenyl and scopolamine on spatial learning/memory in rats

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Journal of Neural Transmission - Parkinson's Disease and Dementia Section

Summary

L-Deprenyl, a specific MAO-B inhibitor, has been reported to improve learning/memory in some cognitive tests in aged rats. The present study investigated whether L-deprenyl could alleviate the spatial learning deficit induced by muscarinic blockade and aging in OFA rats. Scopolamine (0.25 mg/kg) impaired the acquisition of a water maze task in adult rats and increased their swimming speeds. L-Deprenyl (0.25 mg/kg, 14 days) had no effect on water maze performance in saline treated adult rats, but markedly alleviated the learning deficit induced by scopolamine and increased the time and distance of swimming in the training quadrant when the platform was removed (spatial probe trial). L-Deprenyl partly reduced the effect of scopolamine on speed of swimming. Nevertheless, administration of l-deprenyl (0.25 mg/kg, 14 days) had no effect on spatial learning/memory in aged rats. We suggest that the l-deprenyl-scopolamine interaction in the water maze test may be considered as a premise for further investigations of l-deprenyl as cognition enhancer.

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Author notes

  1. L. Yavich

    Present address: Department of Neurology, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland

    J. Sirviö & P. Riekkinen Sr.

  2. Orion Corporation, Farmos R&D Pharmaceuticals, Turku, Finland

    E. Heinonen

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  1. L. Yavich
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  2. J. Sirviö
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  3. E. Heinonen
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  4. P. Riekkinen Sr.
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Yavich, L., Sirviö, J., Heinonen, E. et al. The interaction of L-deprenyl and scopolamine on spatial learning/memory in rats. J Neural Transm Gen Sect 6, 189–197 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02260921

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