title: The effects of atorvastatin on memory deficit and seizure susceptibility in pentylentetrazole-kindled rats.
abstract: Deficits in memory function have been observed in pentylentetrazole (PTZ)-kindled rats. In the present study we examined the effects of atorvastatin ((3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A [HMG-CoA] reductase inhibitor) on PTZ kindling and related memory deficits in rats trained with the passive avoidance test. Subconvulsive PTZ doses rendered a gradual increase in seizure activity. PTZ kindling caused long-term memory to deteriorate. Atorvastatin per se and in PTZ-kindled rats improved learning and memory functions. It also prolonged latency (time to appearance of spike potentials) and diminished the amplitude and frequency of spike potentials, which indicate epileptic discharges. These novel findings suggest that the favorable effect of the atorvastatin on memory deficits provoked by PTZ kindling might be of clinical utility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. guzum@istanbul.edu.tr
authors.forename: Gülay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Uzüm
authors.forename: Kadriye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akgün-Dar
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Aksu
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole