The nitric oxide-releasing derivative of ferulic acid NCX 2057 antagonized delay-dependent and scopolamine-induced performance deficits in a recognition memory task in the rat.
Nitric oxide (NO) is considered as an intracellular messenger in the brain. Its involvement in learning and memory processes has been proposed. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of the NO-releasing derivative of ferulic acid NCX 2057 on rats' recognition memory. For this purpose the object recognition task was selected. Post-training treatment with NCX 2057 (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and with the reference compound, the NO donor molsidomine (4 mg/kg, i.p.), antagonized extinction of recognition memory in the normal rat. Conversely, animals treated with the parent compound ferulic acid (1.9, 6.2 and 18.7 mg/kg, i.p.) failed to do so. In addition, NCX 2057 (3 and 10 mg/kg, i.p) reversed the scopolamine (0.2 mg/kg, s.c.)-induced performance deficits in this recognition memory task. These results indicate that this novel NO donor may modulate different aspects of recognition memory and suggest that an interaction between the nitrergic and cholinergic system is relevant to cognition.
Boultadakis
Antonios
A
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
Liakos
Panagiotis
P
Pitsikas
Nikolaos
N
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002073:Butanes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008981:Molsidomine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects*; D012601:Scopolamine
C484212:3-((4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-propenoic acid 4-nitrooxy)butyl ester; D002073:Butanes; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D009574:Nitro Compounds; C004999:ferulic acid; D008981:Molsidomine; D012601:Scopolamine