title: Spatial memory and NGF levels in aged rats: natural variability and effects of acetyl-L-carnitine treatment.
abstract: The natural variability of behavioral performance of aged rats was used to evaluate the effect of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) on spatial learning and NGF levels in different brain areas. We used a cluster analysis procedure to subdivide the aged animals into three classes of performance (good, intermediate, and poor). These three classes were equally subdivided into controls and ALCAR-treated animals in order to investigate its effect on spatial retention. The stratification of animals prior to treatment allowed us to highlight the state dependency of the action of ALCAR. The effect of the molecule in improving spatial retention was evident only in the intermediate performance group. Furthermore, the drug reduced the NGF levels in the basal forebrain of treated animals, especially in the intermediate performance group. These results suggest a performance-dependent effect of ALCAR and a nonlinear relationship between NGF levels and learning ability in aged rats.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research on Senescence, Sigma Tau S.p.A., Pomezia, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taglialatela
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caprioli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ghirardi
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D000108:Acetylcarnitine