Lamotrigine, a mood stabilizer, may have beneficial effects on memory acquisition and retrieval in mice.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a mood stabilizer lamotrigine (LMG) on learning and memory processes using Morris water maze (MWM), modified elevated plus maze (mEPM) and passive avoidance (PA) tests.


METHODS
Balb-c mice were used. LMG were injected (20; 40mg/kg, intraperitoneal, i.p.) into mice before the probe trial of MWM test and before the acquisition session of mEPM and PA tests.


RESULTS
On the probe trial of MWM test, LMG (40mg/kg) significantly prolonged the "time spent in target quadrant" compared to control and LMG (20mg/kg). LMG (40mg/kg) decreased the "distance to platform" compared to control. Both doses of LMG did not change the "swim speed" of animals. In the mEPM test, in comparison of transfer latency on the first day and transfer latency on the second day for each group, transfer latency on the second day was significantly decreased in the control and LMG-treated groups. Second day transfer latencies compared in-between the group transfer latency of on second days significantly decreased by LMG (20mg/kg and 40mg/kg) treatment compared to control. In the PA test, retention latency significantly prolonged by LMG (40mg/kg) treatment compared to control and LMG (20mg/kg).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results may indicate that, LMG may have some ameliorating effects on spatial memory retrieval on the MWM test. LMG positively affected the acquisition of memory in the mEPM and in the PA test in naive mice.
Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Psychopharmacology Laboratory, 41380, Kocaeli, Umuttepe, Turkey.
Ipek Komsuoglu
IK
Celikyurt
Guner
G
Ulak
Oguz
O
Mutlu
Furuzan Yildiz
FY
Akar
Faruk
F
Erden
Sezer Sener
SS
Komsuoglu
D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013550:Swimming; D014227:Triazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine