Different effects of scopolamine on learning, memory, and nitric oxide metabolite levels in hippocampal tissues of ovariectomized and Sham-operated rats.
Different effects of scopolamine on learning, memory, and nitric oxide (NO) metabolites in hippocampal tissues of ovariectomized (OVX) and sham-operated rats were investigated. The animals in the Sham-Scopolamine (Sham-Sco) and OVX-Scopolamine (OVX-Sco) Groups were treated with 2 mg/kg scopolamine before undergoing the Morris water maze, while the animals in the Sham and OVX Groups received saline. The time latency and path length were significantly higher in both the Sham-Sco and the OVX-Sco Groups, in comparison with the Sham and OVX Groups, respectively (p<0.001). Significantly lower NO metabolite levels in the hippocampi of the Sham-Sco Group were observed, compared with the Sham Group (p<0.001), while there was no significant difference between the OVX-Sco and OVX Groups. The decreased NO level in the hippocampus may play a role in the learning and memory deficits induced by scopolamine. However, it seems that the effect of scopolamine on hippocampal NO differs between situations of presence and absence of ovarian hormones.
Faculty of Basic Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan Branch, Isfahan, Iran.
Hamid
H
Azizi-Malekabadi
Mahmoud
M
Hosseini
Mohammad
M
Soukhtanloo
Reihaneh
R
Sadeghian
Masoud
M
Fereidoni
Fatimeh
F
Khodabandehloo
D000818:Animals; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D012601:Scopolamine