Memory protective effect of indomethacin against electroconvulsive shock-induced retrograde amnesia in rats.
BACKGROUND
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been suggested to retard cognitive decrements in patients with Alzheimer's disease. We postulated that NSAIDs also may protect acute disruption of memory.


METHODS
We studied the effect of indomethacin (4 mg/kg/day) administered daily for 19 days on retrograde amnesia induced by two once-daily electroconvulsive shocks in rats.


RESULTS
Indomethacin produced statistically significant prolongation of recall latency in a passive avoidance task using a step-down apparatus.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that NSAIDs may prevent memory disruption through other mechanisms apart from attenuating chronic inflammation. In patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy, as in those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, antiinflammatory drugs may hold promise in the attenuation of cognitive impairments.
Rao
Sanjay Kumar
SK
Mental Health Unit, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.
Andrade
Chittaranjan
C
Reddy
Kishore
K
Madappa
K N
KN
Thyagarajan
Shivashanmugam
S
Chandra
Suresh
S
D000648:Amnesia, Retrograde / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004597:Electroshock / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007213:Indomethacin