Etazolate improves performance in a foraging and homing task in aged rats.
Etazolate is a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor and GABAA receptor modulator that also stimulates alpha-secretase activity and neurotrophic soluble amyloid precursor protein (sAPPalpha) production, currently developed as a possible Alzheimer's disease therapeutic. In this study two doses of etazolate were tested for cognitive effects in normally aged rats, using a complex spatial learning and memory task that emphasized two naturally occurring behaviors in rodents, foraging for food and returning large pieces of found food to a safe home location. Both etazolate doses completely prevented both (1) a foraging deficit that developed in untreated aged rats over the course of the test, as well as (2) a trial-specific deficit in memory for previously visited food locations that also developed over the course of the test in untreated aged rats. Both doses also significantly reduced a separate memory deficit for changing locations of the animals' home box, plus completely prevented a significant tendency for untreated aged animals to attempt entry into similar-appearing but incorrect home boxes. The combined behavioral data demonstrate positive effects of etazolate on separate age-related cognitive deficits, using a complex task based on naturally occurring rodent behaviors.
Drott
Jason
J
NeuroDetective International, 1422 Hopeland Rd., Wyncote, PA 19095, USA.
Desire
L
L
Drouin
D
D
Pando
M
M
Haun
Forrest
F
D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004974:Etazolate / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D006702:Homing Behavior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
D004974:Etazolate