title: Creatine reduces 3-nitropropionic-acid-induced cognitive and motor abnormalities in rats.
abstract: This study assessed whether creatine could attenuate 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP)-induced neuropathological and behavioral abnormalities that are analogous to those observed in Huntington's disease (HD). Rats were fed diets containing either 1% creatine or normal rat chow for 2 weeks prior to the onset of 3NP administration, and for the duration of the study. 3NP was administered systemically in gradually increasing concentrations over an 8-week testing period. Results show that creatine can attenuate 3NP-induced striatal lesions, striatal atrophy, ventricular enlargement, cognitive deficits, and motor abnormalities on a balance beam task. Collectively, these findings indicate that creatine provides significant protection against 3NP-induced behavioral and neuropathological abnormalities and may have therapeutic potential for HD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant 48859, USA.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Shear
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Haik
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Dunbar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003401:Creatine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D011422:Propionates; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D009574:Nitro Compounds; D011422:Propionates; D003401:Creatine; C015392:3-nitropropionic acid