title: Pyroglutamic acid improves learning and memory capacities in old rats.
abstract: The effects of the arginine salt of pyroglutamic acid (2-oxo-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, PCA) on learning and memory capacities of old rats were studied in a subchronic treatment schedule (i.p. injection of 0.1 and 1 g/kg/day for 15 days). The acquisition and extinction of active avoidance behaviour were studied in a pole-jumping test situation. The retention of passive avoidance response was examined in a step-through passive avoidance task. PCA facilitated the rate of acquisition of pole-jumping response, and inhibited the extinction of the response. The dose of 1 g/kg was more potent than 0.1 g/kg in this respect. Also in the passive avoidance task, the treatment with PCA was followed by an improvement of avoidance retention. These results indicate that PCA is a behaviourally active compound in that it improves learning and memory capacities in old rat.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, University of Catania Medical School, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Drago
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valerio
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'Agata
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Astuto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spadaro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Continella
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Scapagnini
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D011760:Pyrrolidinones; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid